This is not a cynical or unkind reflection but a willingness to entertain, with eyes wide open, the very preciousness of each day and the lack of guarantees that we have another day beyond this today. First day. Next day. Last day. Any day could be “lights outs.” Done. Over. No more next time! No more changes to get it right (whatever that means). The party’s over. But did we make it a party? Did we make it an experience to enjoy, to contribute or just simply be who we want to be…flat-out with no apologies? How many times do we say “tomorrow,” after we first do what we should do or what others want us to do?
Tomorrow.
But just consider this could very well be that last day. And no more tomorrows. I’d bet we’d do our best to fashion that last day just like our best dream. No holding back anymore. No visiting people and places we didn’t want to visit. We’d probably fill it with the people we most love, say what we truly want to say — hike the trails we always wanted to hike, sing the songs in our hearts, laugh…yes, give ourselves a chance to really laugh — big belly laughs. And maybe we give ourselves permission to pump out some tears of joy and gratitude and consciousness — more hyper-aware and hyper-alert than ever.
And I’d bet we’d say more “I love you’s” in that day, far more than we’ve said in the last 1000 days. Doesn’t it sound awesome? It’s like deciding to fly and then growing wings to make it happen. So, let’s get started.
Okay…what do we really want to do on our last day? No kidding!
Who do we really want to be with on our last day? Who do we want to include in our non-stingy, full-out “I Love You’s”? A shout out with conviction to those we’ve passed by but who we do not want to pass by any longer, especially on this last day. And let’s be more visible than we’ve ever been before.
HELLO. IT’S ME. I AM HAVING THE RIDE OF MY LIFE. HELLO. IT’S YOU. AND NOW WE’RE HAVING THE RIDE OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER!
Sure, sure…some of us might be thinking. But let’s be practical and realistic and prudent. Yes, indeed, let’s be practical and realistic and prudent, especially since TODAY COULD REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BE THE LAST DAY OF OUR LIVES.
Just imagine what we might do.
Well, let’s not imagine anymore, but do it…and live as if every day was that very last day — and one day, it will…and on that day we will have NO REGRETS because of how we lived all the other last days of our lives! You’ve been invited. Here, take a seat. So many questions you can now ask yourself (or I can ask you, either through my books or in person — with love and smiles).
Next move is yours!
~”Bears” Barry Neil Kaufman
