This is not a blog about living your life while you can or before tragedy or illness stops us...no. This about how to use our circumstances to our own good and also to good of God. Ours lives are not really our own, our lives are given to us, on loan, by God and therefore return to Him in the end. It's what we do with our lives that matters, not the length or quality. No matter what situation you are in, there is always someone worse off.
You may ask, what could be worse than being totally paralyzed? Well, being totally paralyzed and not having anyone to care for you or also not having your mental functions... AKA: being in a vegetative state. Never complain, there is always someone worse off than you.
We all have circumstances in our lives that could bring us down mentally and emotionally. For example, I have several events going on in my life right now that, if I were to allow them to take over my mind, would bring me down mentally. I choose, however, to look to the bright side and try to make good on these less than welcome circumstances.
Do I get depressed? Yes. Do I cry over things in my life? Yes, at times I do. Do I ever feel like giving up? Never. I realize that every thing in life is temporary. Every thing has a beginning and an end. Nothing, not even life goes on forever.
Having observed people over my lifetime (as I am sure you have, too), I have seen people with obstacles that seemed overwhelming and insurmountable do some amazing things. They have attitudes that simply amaze me. I try to have a positive attitude all the time, even when life gives me a problem, but I still have those times when a positive attitude is only a thought and not an action. In other words, I lose that positive attitude for a period of time.
The thing is, I try. I try not to let circumstances dictate my outlook on life. The only time this is hard if not impossible for me, is if it involves someone I love, such as one of my kids, grand kids, sister, etc. Family is my soft spot. Even then, I try to remain positive and deal with life as it comes.
I still get up every morning and begin a new day. I try to start with a fresh outlook on the new day that God has given me and make plans to use it fully.
The older I get, the more I realize that we should be thankful that we do wake up each morning as there are many who won't.
The point I am trying to make with all this, is:
"Wake up each day thankful to be alive!
Wake up each day thankful that you can accomplish something!
Wake up each day and make it a memorable day!"
- Sheryl 2019 -
“Live today as though it was your last day on earth.
Learn something new everyday as though you are going to live forever.
Experience life everyday – it's more than just another day –
it's another glorious day in your life!”
- Sheryl 2019 -
Here are thoughts on life and living from a few others, hope they lift you up:
“Don't be afraid your life will end;
be afraid that it will never begin.”
- Grace Hansen -
“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives,
that we are dying.
Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day.
So do it! I say.
Whatever you want to do, do it now!
There are only so many tomorrows.”
- Pope Paul VI -
“Every day, it's important to ask and answer these questions:
“What's good in my life?” and “What needs to be done?”
- Nathaniel Branden -
Eleanor Roosevelt, even during her time, knew the purpose and secret to life, she said:
“The purpose of life, after all,
is to live it,
to taste experience to the utmost,
to reach out eagerly and without fear
for newer and richer experience.”
Gene Simmons , an Israeli-American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, made this statement about life and living. It is worthy of remembering:
“I don't wait for the calendar to figure out when I should live life.”
In Summary, start TODAY to EXPLORE new EXPERIENCES no matter what your CIRCUMSTANCES or your ABILITIES. Start WHERE you ARE and DO what you CAN and FILL each day with WONDERFUL MEMORIES!
What is your plan for tomorrow? Will it be the same as yesterday or today or will you live it fuller? Are you already living a full life? Do you see any opportunities in your life to add more living to each of your remaining days on earth?
XOXO