Are you living life to the fullest? Pursuing your hopes and dreams? Have you done the math and does how you spend your time reflect your values? Have you ever taken the time to decide what's truly important to you?
Each of us gets 24 hours a day, no more, no less, for as many days as we are given to spend on this planet. Most of us, however, live as though we'll be here forever. Anyone who's lost a loved one or has faced a life threatening condition knows all to well that nothing could be further from the truth. While its not healthy to live in fear and worry about dying every day, those desiring to live life to the fullest must determine what they truly value and live with intentionality. Otherwise, they are pretty much destined to flit and flounder, and squander the days.
One of the joys of modern technology is that it provides us an opportunity to contact people from our past. I recently reconnected with an old friend and when I shared I'm passionate about helping others live life to the fullest and have better relationships, he asked me if I was living life to the fullest myself. What a great question!
My answer was that while I waste time and am in no way perfect, I make a concerted effort to live each day to the fullest. You see, I learned an incredibly difficult lesson at age 25 when a close friend was killed. The day of her death was the day I learned that life is incredibly short, there are no guarantees on tomorrow and our time on this earth is extremely precious. I wrote the following approximately three years after her death. Sixteen years later, it still captures the essence of how I try to live.
Life and Death
Death you are an obtuse teacher. You're not organized. You don't always follow a logical sequence. You're hard to keep up with. Your lectures are full of veiled messages. And just when I think I have you figured out, you change. If you were a professor, your evaluations would reflect your fickleness. Your inability to be fully understood. And yet I've learned from you, painful lessons I don't care to repeat. I'm glad it's audit. Not pass/fail. And yet maybe that's exactly what it is. You rob us of life if we refuse to learn from you. And what have I learned? Life is fragile, a glorious event. I must remember you make no promises for tomorrow. What I consider important can no longer be put off. I must live each day to the fullest, as though it were my last. And I must remember that life is short. Too short to be wasted. Too short to do things I don't enjoy. Too short to be angry. Too short to be depressed. Too short to be so serious. Too short to live indoors. Too short to watch TV. That's exactly what I've learned, life is short. There are no promises. And yet, I still want to love God above all else. To love others selflessly. To grow wise. To feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. To learn. To feel. To play. To love. I want to live. And yes, I want to grow old. Don't cheat me death. Yet if you do, I'd have few regrets. I love what I'm doing, the person I'm becoming. In this short span of time I've been so blessed. How many people get to live their dreams? Thank you, God. For life. For love. For the time I've been given.
What about you? Are you pursuing your dreams and living life to the fullest? Are there things you've put off that you need to be doing? Do you act as though your time here is unlimited?
If you haven't done so yet, I encourage you to create a life creed/mission statement. Although it can take time and effort, once you determine what's important to you, you'll know how to spend the finite time, talent and resources you possess. I have one question for you in closing: Are you living life to fullest?
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6 comments:
Oh Sherene, you just gave me tears. This is a beautiful and heartfelt article. I'm so sorry about your friend. That is very traumatizing. Sometimes when things happen, we don't know why, but there's a reason. It sounds like you really cared for this person. I hope you are alright. Anyway, thanks for posting and sharing part of your past and soul.
Sherene-
Nice article. We need more positive people like you around. This article was from the heart and I do admire your life and death article. It's hard when we lose someone we care about. You take it easy. Thanks for the post.
Sherene-
I applaud you're candor on your past and sharing this article. I sense you're a very sensitive and emotional being, as well as have a wonderful heart. You do a good job and good luck with achieving all of your dreams. Thanks.
What a touching article. Kudos to you Sherene for getting through that trauma of your friend being killed. I just recently lost my Aunt due to a life-long illness that she was battling for forty years. It was hard on me because I was extremely close to her. Whether it's a friend or Aunt, it tears part of your soul away. I know she's up with her heavenly father now and peacefully resting, but it's still hard to accept it. Thanks Sherene for sharing your story. I appreciate everything you put on here.
Sherene-
Very nice article. I applaud you. You must be a really good friend. She was lucky. I agree, live your life to the fullest because you never know when your time is up. Look at Michael Jackson....a superb, talented musican.......gone..just like that. It's time to be forgiving, nice, giving, understanding, and loving. Live this day as if it were your last. Thanks.
Sherene-
Nice picture. You look very pretty. Thanks for all your comments and life experiences. I'm sure you have a lot to give and teach to others. You seem to be very wise. I wish I knew you. Thanks again.
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