Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Another Chance?


"Real life is found following a funeral." Death is always a cause for reflection. There is a finality

about being buried in the cold damp Earth that causes us to think about a lost loved one and about our own sense of mortality. We will get there too. Truly we have no idea of what that will be. We can't imagine fluffy clouds and harps and Heaven. Or it could be just like before you were born, or maybe there will be a party? As we get older a lot of our friends are on this other side!

If you could do it all over again, one more chance to get it right, would you? If you had this opportunity would you do it differently? You could make this an even simpler question. What would you do if given just one more day? Not one more day in some kind of illness to say farewells but a day in total health where you could do anything you wanted to?

I am betting, no matter how long your list, nothing will have anything to do with wealth or acquiring more "stuff". I am betting that if you could live your entire life over again a bigger house wouldn't even be on the list.

A person could begin this list by thinking of what you would miss most, think about what you might be willing to give up. What is really valuable to you. What would you like to see or do or be again? Where do you find enjoyment and laughter, surprise, wonderment, love, meaning?

Cancer will do this to you, especially if you survive it. You reflect about a lot of things. Today becomes very important. Not in order because I haven't figured that out yet, but tomorrow I will tell you my "top ten". Funny thing is, if I were a millionaire, none of these cost money! or at least not very much. Maybe you can take it with you! My Other Blog is Here.

6 comments:

  1. Jerry, this is the one that really makes me think Hmmmmm! I know of several things, ( being a woman of course theres more than one). I started to write them but I'll make that list to myself ... Good thoughtful post.

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  3. If I could do it all over again, only different - I wouldn't. I am who I am because of the things I did, including the mistakes.

    And one more day? I'd spend it in the mountains!

    Today will always be more important than any other day.

    I'm looking forward to your top ten too! Great post!

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  4. Andrea, you are one of those students who skips right to the end of the book! Of course we wouldn't and couldn't change a thing without becoming something we aren't. Subtract anything and you have eliminated everything! My list tomorrow!

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  5. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” MAYA ANGELOU.

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  6. I came here from PAMO, and have seen your comments on other blogs, and am pleased to make your acquaintance. I have a close relative and a friend both fighting for their lives with cancer now. Because of this entering 2011 has been like peering over the edge of an abyss, wondering what the year will bring. I have thought about your question, and you are right. One month, one year: I'd be painting/writing/blogging - like I only do in my spare time now. One day - I'd probably be in the woods birding in the morning, and the rest of the day with my family around me.

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