Now Is the Time

Now is the Time

“Do you live as though you have all the time in the world? Having all the time in the world is an illusion. You never know what might happen—an accident, an illness, or a disaster. If you only had moments to live, would you change your priorities? What would you do? Where would you go? How would you interact with your family, friends, loved ones—even strangers? But truly: Why are you not doing these things now?”      –Arnie Kozak, from Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants (Wisdom)

Of course I get the sentiment and the truth expressed in this  quote and I have always thought about this when it comes to my interactions with others.On the other hand, there are several reasons why I’m not inviting everyone I love to come tomorrow and we will find a beautiful place in the mountains, maybe by a river to spend a week-end together, eat delicious food and drink red wine and I will pay on my visa and my insurance will pay the visa. (oops my insurance expired at 75) Better not do this.

The truth is, life is short. Although my mother did live to be 100, it still seemed short.  So in the meantime there is more than me to think about and bills need to be paid and cost conserving measures need to be in place and obligations taken care of. This isn’t bad, it is life.

I understand the spirit of this quote, and yet it seems to be part of our human nature that we see ourselves as “built to last.” That is why we are shocked when someone under the age of 90 dies.

But maybe the author is just talking about going swimming, taking a walk, meditating, eating a delicious meal, writing that thank-you, expressing love, retiring because it is time, living on less, writing our story, taking up dancing, buying your own fresh flowers.

Priorities

This past few weeks I am thinking about priorities and how everything can change in a flash.  And how priorities change with  additional information: he has  inoperable cancer; she was hit by a car; she lost the baby; he took his life when the business failed…she just got the best job; the twins graduated; she won a scholarship; she just got the acceptance letter; the cough isn’t asthma. Or maybe simple things like I’ve got pink eye (now a symptom of covid) and I need to see my husband in the hospital or my son needs to be picked up early from school, can you do it? A million little choices each and everyday with none of them ever looked at, as the last thing we will do.

Now that’s something to think about. Maybe it is less about “what would I be doing if” and more about how would I do this thing now if I knew it was the last thing I would ever do.

Notes

Note 1:) Beautiful warm weather and gorgeous foliage graced our thanksgiving weekend. Much to be thankful for.

Note 2:) A little lesson in gratitude from MIT. Watch here.

Note 3:) Thank you one and all for the gift of your time. So many good things to read and I am delighted that you keep showing up here. Lucky me. Warmest wishes to you all, Trudy