Friday, December 17, 2004
Live Every Day As If...
I never thought I would live this long. Between an immanent nuclear World War Three that we constantly prepared for and the deeply morbid suicidal need for release from constant worry and depression, it is still amazing to me that I would see 2005. Actually, I have been shocked to still be around since 1984! And quite frankly, there are not as many changes to the world as one would hope.
But one thing that has changed--my adage to live by. “Live Every Day as if it Were Your Last” did not serve me well. It did not prepare me for middle age.
I did not learn as much as I could have. I did not choose as well as I should have. I did not keep my body in good working order as well as I would have. I did not keep track of the good people that graced my life. I did not pay attention to the details. I was not ready when Opportunity Knocked–and it knocked a lot–albeit sometimes very softly. And despite all those errors, I am still planning to be around to see 2050 or beyond. Don’t worry, kids, I will keep working as long as I can support myself in my simple but tasteful fashion and will try to not be a burden.
I have a new adage.
“Live Every Day as if You Will Live to Be One Hundred.”
Save for your future hard times as well as future good times. Know where your friends are. Learn stuff (hopefully by experience) every single day. Answer, READY OR NOT, every time Opportunity Knocks. Value every penny you have worked for as a means to do good in our world. And spend a little more time listening to the universe and a little less time yelling at it.
I never thought I would live this long. Between an immanent nuclear World War Three that we constantly prepared for and the deeply morbid suicidal need for release from constant worry and depression, it is still amazing to me that I would see 2005. Actually, I have been shocked to still be around since 1984! And quite frankly, there are not as many changes to the world as one would hope.
But one thing that has changed--my adage to live by. “Live Every Day as if it Were Your Last” did not serve me well. It did not prepare me for middle age.
I did not learn as much as I could have. I did not choose as well as I should have. I did not keep my body in good working order as well as I would have. I did not keep track of the good people that graced my life. I did not pay attention to the details. I was not ready when Opportunity Knocked–and it knocked a lot–albeit sometimes very softly. And despite all those errors, I am still planning to be around to see 2050 or beyond. Don’t worry, kids, I will keep working as long as I can support myself in my simple but tasteful fashion and will try to not be a burden.
I have a new adage.
“Live Every Day as if You Will Live to Be One Hundred.”
Save for your future hard times as well as future good times. Know where your friends are. Learn stuff (hopefully by experience) every single day. Answer, READY OR NOT, every time Opportunity Knocks. Value every penny you have worked for as a means to do good in our world. And spend a little more time listening to the universe and a little less time yelling at it.
