Thank You Jim Rohn for A Perfect Day

This past Saturday I enjoyed another “perfect day.” I have several versions of “a perfect day” — a perfect spiritual day, a perfect family day, etc. But this particular “perfect day” was a perfect relaxation day. It started with waking up at our family cabin in the mountains of Sanpete County, Utah. From our cabin I can access several ATV trails near “The Great Western Trail.”  After eating breakfast I chose a trail that snakes along a hillside that looks over a beautiful canyon full of Pines, Aspens, and Maple Trees. At the top of the trail is a meadow where I like to stop and look over the canyon. The trail continues on through a heavily wooded forest, crosses two creeks and eventually loops back to my cabin. It’s about a 90 minute ride that I call “mountain therapy.” I was at the cabin alone to do some work the previous day, so I decided to head back to my “city home” after my trail ride and relax and swim with my family.

I live near the mouth of Provo Canyon, which is where Robert Redford’s Sundance Ski Resort is located. It was such a beautiful day that I decided to ride my bike up Provo Canyon and “earn” my relaxation and swimming. It took me about 90 minutes to get to the top of South Fork road in Vivian Park, and about 30 minutes to get back home. When I got home I put on my swimming suit and enjoyed a nice relaxing swim with Barb. Our home is nestled at the foot hills of Mt. Timpanogos so it’s a beautiful view of the mountains from out backyard. After just coming from one beautiful canyon in the mountains to another, I was overwhelmed with gratitude to live in a such a beautiful place where I could enjoy an ATV ride in one area and then a bike ride in another all in the same day… and then enjoy a relaxing swim at my home.

I share this experience of a “perfect day” not to boast, but to pay tribute to Jim Rohn. Although I never met Jim Rohn he was one of my mentors through his books and tapes in my quest to learn and apply the principles of health, happiness and prosperity. Jim taught me that I could be financially secure by 40 and financially independent by 50. When I was born my mother was still in high school and not married. I was raised by a hard working mother who was single most of her life. As a young boy I had high aspirations and talked about living in a big house with a swimming pool and having a cabin in the mountains. I was naive and didn’t know what the reality of achieving those dreams required (lots of money) so adults around me were always trying to help me understand “reality.” Their intentions were noble — they didn’t want me to be disappointed in how life “really is” when you grow up. In my early twenties (while attending college at a major university — something else I wasn’t suppose to get my hopes up for) I was introduced to Jim Rohn through a cassette tape program. He taught me about personal development, about Philosophy, Attitude, Activity, Results and Lifestyle.  He taught me that if I just followed some basic proven principles I could be financially secure by 40 and financially independent by 50. So I took Jim at his word and did what he told me to do. Heck, I didn’t have anything to lose in trying. And guess what? By 40 I was financially secure and by 50 I was financially independent.

Jim Rohn passed away on December 5th, 2009. I regret not having the opportunity to meet him and thank him personally. So today, as I reflect back on this “perfect day” that I enjoyed this past Saturday, I just wanted to say “Thank you Jim Rohn for all you did to help me achieve my naive dreams as a child.” Oh, and another key principle. Jim was also a very religious man and he often mentioned the importance of God in our lives and how God helps us with miracles if we do the work — the miracles that God blesses us with if we act in Faith and do the Work. So everyday I thank God for all of the many blessings in my life.

May you enjoy an abundance of health, happiness, and prosperity,

D. Scott Elder

Advertisement