The chorus of the song talks about simple things like saying please and thank you, not lying or stealing or cheating anyone, realizing that life can be challenging at times and that it will be OK, as long as you stay humble and kind. Tim reminds us that it is wonderful to feel pride for having achieved our goals and be thankful for having worked so hard to live a dream, but to also remember in that moment that we need to return to being humble and kind as well.
The verses mention family loyalty by visiting when you can, choosing meaningful relationships by thinking twice before being intimate with someone, not holding grudges or a chip on your shoulder because that only keeps you from being your best. This song serves as an excellent reminder of what to keep in mind that we probably already knew, but just forgot.
One of my favorite lines in the song is, "Bitterness keeps you from flyin'. " Think about that. If you stay bitter towards someone or let a past hurt get in the way of being able to enjoy every day, are you really living up to your potential? We all get hurt sometimes. We all feel frustrated towards others at some point in our life. If we can communicate with the person we feel is causing that hurt, let's resolve that hurt and the motivation behind whatever happened and move beyond it. We may never forget the hurt, but we can free ourselves from carrying around that hurt so we can fly once again and enjoy our life.
The last verse of the song returns us to the basics. Tim sings about eating a Popsicle when it's hot, opening the windows for fresh air instead of keeping the air conditioning on and letting the summer sunshine in. When was the last time you allowed the fresh air into your day and enjoyed it? When was the last time you went outside to just soak in the sun...even if it was 30 degrees outside?
No matter your age, stage of life or economic status, you can achieve some of the simple things mentioned in this song and possibly enjoy life a little bit more. We just need to be reminded sometimes. I believe you are worth the effort to remember the enjoyment that can come from the basics and put them into practice. Do you?