EACH DAY IS A GIFT. Our cat was recently diagnosed with cancer. Last week, we rushed home from vacation because we thought she might be in her final hours. Miraculously, she made a comeback, and we have had several wonderful days with her. This helped teach me that each day is a gift.

What does this have to do with filmmaking, you ask? On a film set it is easy to take oneself very seriously. Whether you are the director, an actor, cameraman, or whatever, the tendency is think that what we’re doing is oh-so-important, as if the fate of the world depended on it. This leads to a lot of pettiness which is, of course, nothing but ego.

How differently would we act if we actually realized that each day is a gift? That our cat, our friends, our parents, and even we ourselves may die tomorrow, or today? We will, you know. Most people just nod their heads, as if they know that, but do you know it in your heart? If you did, you would let go of ego, drop your seriousness, enjoy the moment, serve others.

We live in a society that is in denial of death, that overvalues things that, in the relative scale of things, are not so important (eg, fame, power, money). A more important question to ask is, do I love and appreciate those around me, myself, the planet? Do I understand that everything is impermanent, that nothing can be taken for granted, that death, as Castaneda says, is always perched on my left shoulder? If I did, then I would be able to see the beauty and preciousness of every moment. An inner radiance that we’ve never seen before becomes apparent in everything.

I think it is very important, as a filmmaker, to realize that each day is a gift. It is a privilege and responsibility to be making movies. Privilege because very few people ever get to do it. Responsibility because what you do has a far-reaching influence. First and foremost, with the people you are making the movie with. You cannot possibly have a good result without a good process. If the set is filled with ego, pettiness, resentment, and conflict, that will be reflected on the screen in the finished film. If, on the other hand, you as filmmaker set an example of kindness, caring, and service, your movie will be infused with a spiritual energy that the audience will feel and appreciate on an unconscious level. In some small way, you will be making the world a better place.

This is not to say that a set will be Shangri-La, a cozy love-fest. No, the producer and director must at times be very firm. The word “no” must be said, and some people will have to go. But all of this can be done in a non-reactive, non-egoic manner. This is strong, high-quality leadership, that puts the project and its goals above that of any individual. All is done in the spirit of service. By serving others, we serve ourselves.

So, on the film set, and in life, remember that each day is a gift. You will be shuffling off this mortal coil one day, all too soon, perhaps when you least expect it. But if you have treated each day as a gift, you will have no regrets. You will be ready for the next adventure.