Live Today: Embrace the Power of Yes
Hey, brother. This would really be challenging for me. I’ve got a big business trip earlier in the week that won’t be getting me back to Houston till late on Thursday. I’d love to be there with y’all. Just don’t think I can swing it.
That was the text I read from Digger—a name that has stuck with him for over 30 years. Life had pulled him in different directions, like it does for all of us. He was ready to say no, to let another opportunity pass.
But just 74 minutes later, I got this:
Damn it, LITSG, I’m in!!!! LITSG principle… Opportunity to visit with good friends for the weekend. LITSG would tell me to get my priorities straight. Invest in the moment as we only have a finite number of these in our lives.
That shift—those 74 minutes—wasn’t just about a decision to join us for a weekend. It was about choosing life, opportunity, memories, and fun. It had been 25 years since this group of college buddies gathered for a Rutgers football game. Moves, jobs, kids, and the busyness of life spread us across the country. Yet, every fall, we text during games, sharing our love for Rutgers football. But texting isn’t living, and those moments of connection begged for something more.
So, I decided to bring the crew back together. Seven of us jumped at the chance for an epic weekend in New Brunswick—golf, football, reliving memories in old haunts, and creating new ones. One outlier wasn’t sure he could make it happen. Until he did.
It’s easy to say no. It’s easy to make excuses. But life is too short for that. Too often, it takes an illness, an accident, or some life-altering event to force us to say yes. Why wait for that AHA! moment when you can embrace life NOW?
That weekend was unforgettable. There was the shared surprise moment when we sat down for dinner at a table next to the Rutgers basketball coach, players, and a recruit. It wasn’t just the activities that made it special, but the people—the energy, the laughter, the bonds that felt as if no time had passed. We wrote a new chapter of our story together, creating memories that none of us could have scripted. And while seven of us could have made it happen, the eighth—Digger—made it magical.
Digger’s decision was more than just a “yes” to a weekend. It was a commitment to living the LITSG principles: Minutes Matter, Can’t Make It Alone, and Live Today… Don’t Wait for Tomorrow. He understood the value of time, choosing to invest his minutes in something real, something lasting. He saw the power of friendships and social connections, knowing they aren’t built overnight—they’re nurtured by shared experiences. And he embraced the truth that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Today is the day to live fully.
When I circled back with Digger a few weeks later, he told me, “I changed my mind based upon the LITSG philosophy and had an amazing time with friends that money couldn’t replace. Best decision ever.”
So, the next time you’re tempted to say, “no, not today,” or “I want to, but I just can’t,” think about the opportunity you’re letting slip away. Life is full of moments waiting to be embraced. Say YES—to connection, to experience, to living deliberately. Because each time you say no, you might just be closing the door on something unforgettable.
Make today—and every day—a day of yes. Make today, and every day, the best day ever.
Best regards,
Scott