Change

"Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Opportunity to Live Calling

This morning I was faced with my first opportunity to really live life - or not - since making my commitment to live every day.

Before I go any further I should make a confession - I love to sleep. Given the choice between food, sex and sleep...food is tempting, but sleep is at the top of my list. So when my phone woke me with a familiar "ching" this morning indicating I had received a text message, I was not jumping out of bed looking for an opportunity to live. No, I was wanting to roll over and pull the covers over my head.

Responsibility got the better of me - after all, somebody must be hurt or ill to need me at this hour of the morning. The text was from a friend and mentor that I had not seen in about a year. It read: "Passing through town this morning. Would love to get together for breakfast."

A menu of possible excuses zipped through my mind as I struggled to think of a way to get another couple hours of sleep. I had finally settled on an appropriate excuse and snuggled deeper into the warmth of my bed when I realized I was passing up an opportunity to live. That realization was all it took. I got up and went to breakfast with my friend. We had a wonderful time and it turned out to be a beautiful way to start the day.

I didn't hesitate to see my friend because I dislike her company. On the contrary, I love spending time with her and I admire her a great deal. As hard as it is to admit, the issue was simply laziness. I didn't want to get up early.

There are many obstacles to living life. Today the obstacle for me was laziness. Living life is a constant choice. Don't let laziness or any other obstacles keep you from living today. Don't waste a single moment. LIVE and love every minute of it.

New Year's Resolution

I'm not really big on New Year's Resolutions. I think about them every year and sometimes I take a stab at actually writing them down. My resolutions usually revolve around the usual - losing weight, exercising or eating a healthier diet, but this year is different.

This year, I plan to simply.... live. That may sound a little strange to many of you. After all my heart is obviously beating, my brain is firing and my lungs are breathing or I probably wouldn't be able to write these words. So, what do I mean?

Have you ever caught yourself wishing for a day/week/month/semester/year to pass more quickly? Ever find yourself bored with life? Ever find yourself dreaming of the great life you will finally be able to live when meet that special someone/lose a certain number of pounds/get the perfect job/earn a certain amount of money?

Unfortunately, I am guilty of thinking all those things at one point in my life or another. In each of those moments, I was wasting the precious gift of life. This year I choose to live - to enjoy every single moment of the life I have been given. Life is a fleeting gift and at the end of my days, I want everyone to know that I lived each day to the fullest; I loved those around me to the best of my ability; and I cherished every moment with all my heart.

I hope you will join me on this journey. Some days will be more difficulty than others, but together we can do it. Let's not waste another day on regrets of the past and dreams of a future that may or may not materialize. Let's live today as if it were the last day of our lives and the best day of our lives because who knows....it may be.