I decided to start with a simple quote, yet one with so much meaning: John Walters said, “Life is short, so enjoy it to the fullest.” Last night, a friend of mine lost her father in a terrible car accident. So, I couldn’t find a quote more fitting for my thoughts today. A life can be lost in a blink of an eye, one slide off the road, one diagnosis…it can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. Death does not discriminate. It does not care if you are rich or poor, male or female, black or white, gay or straight. It is inevitable; the one thing we are certain of from the day we are born is that at some point, our lives will end. However, today has me thinking a lot about how much we worry about that moment…but what really matters is what we do in between that time we are born until the time that we die.
My friend’s dad was an incredible man. He was kind, giving, soft-spoken, and took care of everyone before himself. He was a preacher at a local church and was the definition of what a man of faith should be. I did not know him extremely well, but you didn’t have to in order to know what kind of guy he was. The entire family is so kind and filled with love, and you can tell that’s what was always most important to this man.
And that, in my opinion, is what it means to enjoy life to the fullest: to love and spread kindness, to enjoy the company of your family and friends, and to make the most of every single day we are given. Let’s all remember that though our lives may be short, they do not have to be empty. Fill them with the things that make you happy. Do what you’ve always wanted to do today. Never forget to tell the ones you love that you love them. Life can be cruel at times, but it can also be so good. Today got me thinking about how there is no time to dwell on the bad stuff in life because there is just way too much to be thankful for. Remember that we are never guaranteed the next year, day, or breath….so let’s get the most out of the one we have right now.