A good friend called me today and told me that her son had died. Just 20 years old, he died of a rare form of cancer. At the end, he said no to the hospital and the breathing tube that would have given him a few more days of life and went home to die on his own terms with his parents and loved ones by his side.
His illness, and his death, reminds me that we really don’t know what the future holds for us. We do our best to try and predict what comes next, but life has a way of throwing us curve balls.
Not all of life’s surprises are bad. Some are very, very good. My recent life plan was to enjoy being single. Enjoy being able to make any decision I wanted to without consulting anyone. I was as surprised as anyone to fall crazy in love with an amazing man who is crazy about me. We got married! So much for me being single.
So my advice to you is, if life throws you some happiness, grab it and hold onto it, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Here is a song by Nickelback that has been playing a lot on my iPod:
If Today Was Your Last Day
My best friend gave me the best advice, he said each day’s a gift and not a given right. Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind, and try to take the path less traveled by. That first step you take is the longest stride.
If today was your last day, and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past, donate every dime you have? If today was your last day.
Against the grain should be a way of life. What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight. Every second counts ’cause there’s no second try. So live like you’ll never live it twice. Don’t take the free ride in your own life.
If today was your last day, and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past, donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see? Reminisce of memories, would you forgive your enemies? Would you find that one you’re dreamin’ of, swear up and down to God above, That you finally fall in love. If today was your last day.
If today was your last day, would you make your mark, by mending a broken heart? You know it’s never too late to shoot for the stars, regardless of who you are. So do whatever it takes, ’cause you can’t rewind a moment in this life. Let nothin’ stand in your way, cause the hands of time are never on your side.
If today was your last day, and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last, leave old pictures in the past, donate every dime you have? Would you call old friends you never see, reminisce of memories, would you forgive your enemies? Would you find the one you’re dreamin’ of, swear up and down to God above, that you finally fall in love. If today was your last day.
Rest in peace Michael. Your short life and courageous death made a big impact on me and many other people. We love you.
Thanks for a lovely post. I know what you mean. We often live in the past or the future, with no value for the day at hand. You’ve expressed it beautifully.
I’m so sorry for your friend. Twenty is too young to have to choose between dying today and dying tomorrow. It makes me sad.
As for the other side of your post, I agree! Happiness is best taken as is, when and where and how it arrives. Congrats for grabbing ahold of it!
Love, Cindy
In this great world of colours , life beings with only one word that is GO AHEAD but in this impact shows that its too young to die. life is like this people go late when they never wanted to stay and few people die in early age which God knows why but its the circle of life which no one has to ability to fight with.