Life is Short

Okay, how many times have we all heard that phrase? "Life is short, so live it to it's fullest." I sometimes think that it has become so old hat that we don't really understand it's meaning anymore. However, from time to time, I find myself contemplating my life and if it is something I have really lived to it's fullest potential?

I find it very interesting that until I was in college, I had only gone to one funeral and known only two other people who passed away. One of my cousins (second cousin really) died tragically when I was 14. That was hard. The other deaths were my great-grandmothers - one died while I was little (7 or 8) and the other died my senior year. However, starting in college, I began my journey into discovering what "life is short" is really all about.

In the last nine or ten years I have attended several funerals. Some of elderly people who had lived long lives and some of young adults who were just starting out. Regardless of the age of the person, I have to remind myself that no one is really ready for death and that I imagine most had things left on their personal "TO DO" lists. No matter if you are 30 or 80, life is short. In the grand sceme of things, what is 80 years? Nothing. There is much debate on how long our earth has been in existance, but it is safe to say that it has been a great deal longer than 80 years, or even 100.

So, life is short takes on a new urgency to me now. I still have my days that I do absoultely nothing. I sit on the couch - lay is more like it - and watch pointless movies that I have seen a million times. Do I regret those days? Do I think..."I really should have been out living today"?

Nope. While I hope those days don't become excessive, I think they have their place in life just as the days that are packed full of excitment. Our culture is becoming very focused on the high adventure of life. I agree...life should be adventerous. But, I also believe that it should be relaxing. As mentioned before, I watch The Amazing Race frequently (currently very put out that they moved the show from Tues to Wed because I have a Wed night class, but that is another issue). One thing I have noticed and the host has commented on in his blog is that many of the teams are so focused on the fast pace of the race, that they don't take the time to really appreciate where they are and what they are seeing. Yeah, the million dollars is awesome if you win it, but, to me it is more exciting to be able to say, "We have been to....and saw..."

I love all the adventures that my hubbie and I take...the little hikes here in Arkansas, the big hikes up places like Mt. Wheeler in NM, the whirl-wind honeymoon throughout Europe, but I also very much love the days that are spent stuck inside because the weather is bad outside. Playing cards and laughing at incredibly stupid jokes or movie quotes. I love sipping a glass of wine while I talk on the phone to a friend who is doing the same thing. I love listening to the rain hit the roof while I just lay on the couch doing nothing but listening. These simple pleasures are just as wonderful to me as the high adventure trips I like to take.

I guess ultimately, there may still be some bullets left on my "TO DO" list when I die, but if I enjoyed the time I had and helped others do the same, then I have accomplished much I think. Life is short...live it to it's FULLEST.