Sunday, December 2, 2007

Something to think about..............


A recent e mail that I received:

READ THIS VERY SLOWLY... IT'S PRETTY PROFOUND.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible. How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something h ad been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched ' Jeopardy' on television? I cannot count the times I called my sister and said , "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gas up and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain" And my personal favorite: "It's Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college. Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit." When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord. My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a trip le-decker cone. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy. Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to...not some thing on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

13 comments:

Sherry said...

Oh yes, this is a life lesson indeed. Sometimes we only learn this when we have been forced into re-examining our lives. Learning this lesson BEFORE that happens is essential!!

bj said...

I enjoyed reading this so much, Nan. Thanks for sharing!
hugs, bj

Kissing of the Frogs said...

Ok you just slapped me on the face....I'm off to do something today that I WANT to do - thanks for the wake up post. HA! I really enjoyed reading this.
Rose

Carletta said...

Nan,
I'm fairly new to this blogging adventure, but I found yours a couple of weeks ago and keep stopping by. Today you have hit home with me. Since recently retiring from teaching I have told myself for four months I can now do what I really want. Have I? No. You said everything today that I have thought many times. Even though I have wash to do, decorations to finish, dusting, etc. I'm going to sit down and begin those homemade Christmas cards I'm itching to do. With a nod to classic charm thanks for the wakeup call indeed!!!
I love your blog.

Hootin Anni said...

....my father gave me the best advice...he told me once when I was a teenager to live life to the fullest, that "The graveyard is filled with indispensable people" and I took this to heart. Enjoy life to the fullest is my motto.

Have a great day
[ps, love the candleholders!!!!]

BittersweetPunkin said...

Thanks Nan...for changing how my day will go today...you gave me much to think about and its so true....Thank you.
(love the snowmen cartoon too....funny!)
Blessings,
Robin

Karen H. said...

Good Afternoon Nan,
Wow, such a powerful lesson to be/have learned. You know, after I had my bowl of cornflakes this morning, I decided to cook brunch for hubby and the girls. It wasn't something I "HAD" to do, it was something I "WANTED" to do. So, I fried some sausage, opened up a couple of cans of jumbo biscuits, and fried eggs and scrambled eggs. I really enjoyed doing it today. It didn't seem like a chore for some reason. Another thing we shouldn't do either is to go to bed angry with someone either. The very same thing could happen. Live life to the fullest and make each day count. Very good post today Nan. Take care my friend and have a great Sunday. May God Bless You and Yours.

Hugs,
Karen H.

Unknown said...

Yes that is profound. Few months ago I was occupied with that topic, because I am in a transition stage of my life, I am so lost and I don't know anything anymore. So I made a list - 100 things to do before I die and 100 things I really love!
It is not easy to write it when you are lost, but it kind of helps you to see more clearly what is really important. And it is simple enjoy the moment - the moment is all that you have!
Carpe diem!!! Suzy

Alice said...

Nan, I love that!! We could all take a lesson from that and I try to live my life knowing that we are here for such a short time. Have a good evening!
alivel

Nunnie's Attic said...

I've read this before. But it is always a lesson I need to learn. No matter how many times I read I can't help but think...that person with the ice cream has got the right idea!

Love,
Julie

Tammy said...

Beautiful post. Mine today is an email forward too...I don't normally like to get them and rarely foward them myself but when a good one does come my way I try to find some way to post it!

Have a great evening! =)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder Nan. When my husband died at 45 years of age, my special blessing was that I felt he had done so many of the things on his "bucket list". I try to keep my priorites straight, too.Christy :-) <><

Janet said...

Nan,
Thanks for the reminder.
Janet