Take Hold of Every Moment

This was sent to me by my sister in England. She said yesterday's blog post, Chasing Daylight, reminded her of it.

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TAKE HOLD OF EVERY MOMENT
     
A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:
 
"This," he said "isn't any ordinary package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.
 
"She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothings he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died.

He turned to me and said, "Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.

I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.

I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if i feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.

The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary.

If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... letters that i wanted to write "One of these days".

I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brothers and sons, not times enough at least, how much I love them.
Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.

And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day.

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

If you got this, it's because someone cares for you and because, probably, there's someone you care about.

If you're too busy to send this out to other people and you say to yourself that you will send it "One of these days", remember that "One day" is far away... or might never come. .

This TANTRA came from India. No matter if you're superstitious or not, spend some time reading it.
 

Chasing Daylight

I just finished reading a good book. It's the sort of book I don't normally read, but I'm glad I did. It's by Eugene O'Kelly and is called Chasing Daylight - How My Forthcoming Death Transformed My Life.

Doesn't really sound like a fun book, does it? But let me tell you, once I started reading it I didn't put it down till I was finished.

First, a little background. "Gene" O'Kelly, as he was known, was the CEO for the company I work for. Last year he was diagnosed with late stage, inoperable brain cancer, at the age of 53, and was given approximately 3 months to live.

Gene took that news and resolved to make those final 100 days the best of his life.



The book is poignant and thought provoking. His idea for writing it was to encourage other people start making the most of their lives NOW, and not waiting until the Grim Reaper came calling and it was too late.

As you can imagine, as CEO of a large company, Gene often worked 96 hour weeks, travelled around the world and generally lived for his work. The saddest part of the book, for me, was the fact that Gene and his wife, Corrine, justified the long hours, the travel, the "pedal to the metal" existance of a corporate executive's life with the idea that they were planning for the future, that when they retired they could have all the time together they wanted and needed. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. All that planning and they didn't get that far.

But as I read the book, and about Gene's quest for "Perfect Moments" I realized that a lot of what he started to do, once he had his diagnosis, I already do.

He was always the Type A personality, always on the go, always on the move, planning the next thing. He didn't take time to smell the roses.

I'm not like that. For a long time now I have tried to find positive and pleasurable moments in every day. I can take immense joy out of watching the birds on my bird feeders, or watching a butterfly flitting from bloom to bloom. I notice things around me that I bet other people don't notice - pretty cloud formations, the smell of roses in the air, a pleasant breeze.

When E. comes to visit, both of us cherish every moment we spend together. Gene remarked in his book that by cherishing time spent with someone, or doing something, time seemed to stand still for him, and E. and I have noticed the same thing. We don't have to have this busy itinerary planned for his visits. Just sitting on the porch drinking coffee, or looking at the stars from the back patio bring us peace and calm that seems to linger.

I'm glad that, in the end, Gene was able to find those Perfect Moments he was looking for and make the very best end he could, for his sake and that of his family.

This has been rather a ramble, and probably doesn't make sense to anyone but me (if it even makes sense to me) But it was something I wanted to touch on, because the book had quite a profound effect on me as I was reading it.

What Element is Your Love?

Wow, this was kind of interesting. E. and I joke that I can be bossy, so what is the first thing that came up here? "In love, you tend to gently dominate and guide your partner." Hmmmmmm.

I sure hope he's not Metal, if he does this quiz!

Your Love Element Is Wood

In love, you tend to gently dominate and guide your partner. For you, love is all about sharing goals and future plans. You attract others with creativity and vision. Your flirting style is defined by your honesty and assertiveness. Growth and improvement are the cornerstones of your love life. You may focus on goals too much in relationships, but you never come out of them with a loss. You connect best with: Water Avoid: Metal You and another Wood element: will be doomed to a stormy relationship

What Element Is Your Love?

Could You Pass the US Citizenship test?

OK - so I'm a reject! I failed the US Citizenship test. I guess that explains why I am still a Resident Alien, complete with green card (which is actually blue and white)

Amazingly, most people I know didn't do much better! Why not have a try and see how you do, then come back and let me know!

You Failed the US Citizenship Test

Oops, you only got 3 out of 10 right!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?