~Thought For The Day~ What If? ©

  I was visiting with a very nice lady who lives across from us. I had not seen her since we left and as I sat and talked to her, taking in her words and also the words I didn't hear but the gestures and smiles she gave,  as I did I saw the formation of this thought for the day.

She greeted me with a smile and welcomed me in, telling me about her new puppy and showing him off. She carefully sat back into her easy chair and she sighed long and deep.

She talked her about her grandchildren, the heat, and many other various topics.

Without hesitation she announced that she has but six months to live. She is coming to the end of a terrible struggle with many ailments but mainly her battle with a heart condition.

I watched her as she smiled, laughed and hugged everyone who entered her home.

I really didn't know what to say, I tried, but I had very little to add after her announcement.

I admire her greatly, and as I exited her door, a down pour of rain came. Normally I would have run to take cover, but I just stood there, letting the rain slam against me, soaking my clothes to my skin.

At that moment the grand scheme showered down upon me. It cleansed my soul and it washed through me like a quickly approaching thunder shower. I needed to process all of this and think on it for a while.

I made my way back slowly to where I live, and I began thinking, and then as I cooked dinner, my mind could not shake what I had just encountered. Last night as I stood outside with the fireflies dancing around me, I looked across and saw her looking out the window; she was taking in this natural light show just like I was.

I can’t imagine where my mind would be if I knew I that in a matter of months my life would be at its end. I can honestly say, seeing her frame of mind and her way to handle it has led me to you, to give you the wisdom I gained in just a matter of minutes on a hot June evening.

What if today were our last?

What if tomorrow never came?

Would you be pleased with what you left behind?

Did you truly live or did you just go through the motions of every day?

I have asked myself these questions many times over the years, but after sitting with this lovely person and absorbing her attitude, it all made sense and I came to see things from a whole new standpoint.

We get so wrapped up in daily life that we forget to live. What do I mean live you are asking. Before you check your pulse let me explain. I don’t mean doing mounds of laundry, cooking dinner every night, taking your kids here and there, clocking into work, paying bills, changing the sheets on your bed weekly. I mean LIVE.

How often have you stood outside in the rain?

How often have you called someone for no reason, or better yet showed up at their door with a smile, a cake or a handpicked flower?

How often have you stopped everything you were doing to sit in the floor and play with a child, not just your child, but any child you know?

How often have you made sure that those you love so dearly know it?

Now let me ask you this next series of questions. I promise there will be no written test afterwards, but I will ask you to test yourself after the closing of this piece.

How many times have you seen an incoming call and hit ignore, just because that person talks too much and with the best of intentions you think” I will call them later”.

How many times has someone sent you a text message and you ignored just because you figured you had all the time in the world to reply, and you let it sit there for days, months or maybe you possibly deleted it?

We are all guilty of this. We think that we have so much time, so many more days to get around to living, but my friends we can’t put it off; we must LIVE, and LIVE NOW.

My mind goes to a favorite movie quote, I want you to read it, and then read it again. Ponder this;

“Every man dies, but not every man lives. ~Braveheart

I think back to when I was a little girl, I wanted to dance, I had grand dreams of being a dancer, a ballerina or a tap dancer, and I failed horribly at them both, I really did. I remember Mom saying, “Ya know what Tesi, you may not be a ballerina or a tap dancer, but don’t let that stop you from dancing, dance on sweetheart.” Do I still dance? Every single chance I get, even when it isn't really a good time. Why? Because, I feel like it. Because I don’t want to be remembered for the mundane tasks I perform, I want to be remembered for always living.

This week one of my very best friends fulfilled a dream, he and I have had so many conversations about giving back to the world, about making a difference and bringing something positive to this world in our different ways. I am very proud to say he has done that. Joseph Canell started a nonprofit organization for children. He made his vision happen! How? Because he didn't just keep driving his truck and wishing, he got up, and found a way to better the world. So many people tell me that they can’t change anything so they just got through the motions and that is 100% pure bull snot. They have some idea in their minds that one single person can’t do anything to leave a mark on the world, to make a difference. WRONG!

Even the smallest acts, the most overlooked things are ways to make a change and also bring joy to your heart, and it always leaves a legacy behind you, a legacy that screams I LIVED!

Think of my neighbor, her days are numbered, but guess what, so are yours, she just has a heads up. Tomorrow is too late, think of sweet Clint, my awesome little friend who squealed with in the ball pit, we live; we die, but are we happy, fulfilled and satisfied? If you aren't try something new.

As I type this, I look across to that lady’s window, I know by winter I will no longer see her there, she is OK with it, and guess what, she is living now. Like there will be no tomorrow.

Don’t put it off, get out there and LIVE! Make some calls, change a life, even in a small way, you are living. Dance in the rain, because when your time is done, you will long be remembered by what you did, never what you wished you had.

I write this in dedication to Joseph Canell, who has put his dreams in action, starting small but very determined he is living and seeing  a greater picture of what life is about. It isn't about who has the most money when they carry you out, it is about the lives you touched, the memory of what you lived.

Joe, my friend, thank you for living with me, for standing up and giving of yourself in such a selfless way; I am so very proud of Project Blackbird, and what you strive to do. You will be rewarded more than you ever dreamed, by the smiles of children, the hope you gave that child’s parents and those around you who see that ONE person can live and change lives.

LIVE PEOPLE.. LIVE. Don’t shuffle through life with your head down…GET ON IT! What if....

Here are my thoughts!

Also go check out Project Blackbird, a very good way to start living my friends. 

Project Blackbird

©

Teresa ;)