If today was to be the last day of the world, not that I think it is or anything, what would you think of the last week? Would you be happy with the impact you had on your family? With the level of interaction with your loved ones? Who might you regret not seeing, or telling how you feel about them? Would you regret how you handled a conflict? Would you feel that you lived life the best that you could? If we were to continually live with awareness of the fact that we are not guaranteed or entitled to another second on this earth, the perspective of such could change how we feel about many things.
I, for one, generally think that living my last bits of life working in a job that I do only for survival and that doesn't bring me any happiness would be a big waste of my life. Yet, I couldn't regret spending this time at work because it allows me to provide for my family, which serves a much higher purpose than any of the fun things I could think up for myself. That's what keeps me going, as it does for many. Well, that and the threat of destitution. Ultimately, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't enjoy life more without a job, unless I had something else that enabled me to provide for my loved ones differently. (Or that ever elusive enjoyable job.)
Now that THAT'S out of the way... What about family? Who would you have seen more? Or less? For me, I would spend more time with my grandmother, who was once the salt of my earth, and provided my only refuge from misery. Some of which was general teenage angst, but there was real legitimate misery going on, and she was my only escape; a great one at that. I've always loved my grandmother for her amazing heart, and feisty spirit, but what happened to her importance? People have said things along the lines of what I summarize as priority transparence, which is the idea that you can see what is important in your life by how much time you give it. Grandma is indeed important, but I'm out of time and energy after work/ school/ kids/ house/ husband, and it takes discipline to conjure up enough energy to continue the list which from there includes husband/ dogs/ and once in an amazing while myself. I wouldn't give a crap about cleaning the house with a known time limit, so theres one place to steal time from... I also would want to get in some really good quality one on one time with each of the kids, and I could truly write all night about this topic. I'm sure you can relate!
Along with family, I really would plan some things into my last week of life to impact others. Perhaps I would help someone be less hungry or warmer in the winter. I promise I am not saying this to impress you, I really do want to help people. However, I don't do much to this end, and that's ok in my mind so long as I can do it "later". And to the point of these thoughts, what if "later" never comes?
Last but hopefully not least, there's my fun. I don't have enough of it, but what would I do? I'd want to see new things, and try new things. I'd absolutely want to dance more, and I would want to be in nature as often as possible. What comes to mind for you?
Though the world may not end tomorrow, I never know when mine will. My recommendation is that we make a list of what we really want to do, and when we are going to or hope to do it. Then, when we look over this list, remind ourselves that the time we plan on borrowing does not in fact belong to us, and that every moment is a gift. And for our involvement with others, their time is just as precious. What will you do differently?
