"live each day as if it's your last" does not have to be some big act. it is not about going skydiving or traveling the world or telling your secret crush that you love them. I have learned this is talking about the little things. eating that last piece of cake, going for a swim and getting your hair wet even if it means an extra shower, choosing people before money or time or anything materialistic. There are so many people that would take a plane ride to go to someone's funeral, but make all the excuses in the world about why they don't have the time or money to visit the person while they're still alive. I'm not talking elderly people, I'm talking family members, long distance friends...you really never know when the last time you'll get to see them is and I know I'd rather have the people I love visit me for a vacation and none of them come to my funeral rather than vice versa.
The whole idea of this comes from an article my dad sent me a few years ago about this famous author who wrote a list of all the things she wished she had done during her life. She wrote it while she was on her deathbed. I only remember these 3 things, but reading the article was extremely powerful and obviously the lesson has stuck with me.
She wrote:
1. i wish i would have said yes to dessert
2. i wish i would have not cared about messing up my hair when i rode in a convertible
3. i wish i wouldn't have told my kids to go watch tv as much
Dad, if you have the article will you send it to me again? or I'm sure you remember this woman's name and I can google it.
Anywho, thought it was interesting how the line "live each day like it's your last" has become cliche and almost meaningless, but when you really evaluate the little things in life...it can mean so much more!!
Katie
The author is Erma Bombeck. She started writing a family life/ humor column for a newspaper and then it became syndicated and then wrote books, etc. I saw an interesting bio on her on PBS.
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