Today would have been Randy Pausch’s 48th birthday. We were fortunate enough to have Randy Pausch as one of our Inspirational Luminaries on InspireMeToday.com. Randy, known for his “Last Lecture”, passed away in July from cancer.
I know how special birthdays are, for I just celebrated my 50th three days ago, surrounded by family and friends. On my birthday, one of my good friends, who is only in her early 40’s, had surgery for cancer. All three of these things are reminders for me of just how short life really is.
I think we all live our lives just assuming we’ll be here forever. I can’t imagine having my life cut short- for I have so many things I still want to achieve and in many ways, I feel like I’m just starting! I’m finally doing what I love instead of what I have to do. I live my life each day and enjoy the moment, but I also spend a lot of time working and planning the future. I imagine it was the same for Randy and was that way for my friend dealing with cancer.
But what if I’m wrong and I don’t have another 75 years? Randy’s passing, my friend’s surgery and turning 50 have all given me a reason to pause and look at my life. If I knew tomorrow was my last day, what would I do? Would I be disappointed? From a very human perspective, I know I would be. I so enjoy living life and choose to be here to play for many more years. But what if? How differently would I live my life if I knew I had one month or one year? What important things would I do? And just as important, what things that I think are important now would I stop doing?
We think our life is determined by the things we choose to do. I think our life is determined even more by the things we choose NOT to do. For choosing to do or not to do anything is still a choice- with great ramifications in our personal world. Makes me ponder, what am I consciously choosing to do? What path am I precluding by saying “No” or “Not now” to other options?
Regardless of the amount of time I have remaining, I want to live my life fully. As our Luminary Kirsty Dunphy said just a few days ago, if you have to have regrets, I want to “regret the things I’ve done, not those I didn’t do!” In other words, GO FO IT! Live life fully, and if you make a mistake, it’s no big deal. It’s sure better than taking the safe path and missing the excitement and zest of this experience of being alive. I think I’ll go book sky diving or paragliding lessons today. I know I’ll regret it if I don’t do this! What will your regrets be if you don’t do them today? Celebrate life in every way that you can- today. Please share below something outrageous that you’re going to do today. Then go do it- go celebrate your life! Thanks for sharing.
This is certainly resonating true with me today ( http://injodiesbrain.com/2008/10/i-like-myself-like-i-like-my-gravy-not-lumpy/ ), but I have usually been a carpe diem type person. Heck… I have purple hair right now *grin*. Aside from the tattoos and piercings I have not yet been brave enough to get, setting foot on every continent would be awesome. Oh, and I really should return to belly-dancing…
Very good post thanks for taking the time to share it. It certainly holds true to enjoy life, to experience life is to truly live. It is the simplest terms and yet when you put a date on it or a time period it most certainly results in a sense of urgency, to do now as if today is the last day. And really that is how we should all live life don’t you agree?
Gail, What outrageous thing would I like to accomplish before I leave this earth? Hmmm…what might be outrageous to one will probably not be outrageous to another. My outrageous thing? I guess it would have to be that my first book gets published. It was the Lord that whispered to my heart to write it so to have it published would be outrageously overwhelming confirmation.
THIS is exactly why I do waht other people think as crazy. I watched my grandmother’s health deteriorate the last several years of her life. All the while, I thought of all her stories and how she always talked about all that she had ever wanted to do but this or that or someone made it impossible. My mother is already talking like that. It makes me sad that people are so willing to give in to regretting than to commit to LIVING! That’s why my blog is called Living – In Theory. Sometimes, we walk around and do the necessary things in order to get to the next moment… but have we really lived the moment just before? I couldn’t possibly jump out of planes or climb every mountain every day, but I try to remember how precious each day is and live as though I am dying. Because I am… I just don’t have any idea what date that is.
I refuse to leave quietly.
Two things on my list – not sure how outrageous they will seem to anyone. First: I want to produce, record, and release a CD of my music. I have played piano since the age of 5 (turned 53 on the 21st) and have had people enjoying my work for years (mostly southern/country gospel). Have made a few attempts to record, but never was able to turn out a decent sounding project. (Couldn’t afford commercial studios and what I could afford didn’t sound good.) But now, with digital audio and personal computers, I have the means. Arrangements are in progress and I hope to have the album ready in the next year or so. (God willing!)
Second, I want to still be able to walk on my 65th birthday. I have a condition called spinal stenosis as the result of a car wreck 7 years ago. I am not a viable candidate for the only surgery for this condition, and my doctor has stated that I will eventually end up in a wheelchair. Fine. I’m okay with that. But I intend to put that day off as long as possible. Right now I say 65. If I make 65 I will reset my goal for 70. Then 75…
Well, this isn’t exactly outrageous, but one of my great desires is to take a cooking tour through Italy, discovering the way Italians cook, live, worship, while I’m exploring their beautiful country.
Outrageous desire is to pilot a fighter Jet. Think Blue Angels…………..
Time is such a funny thing. My Nana, who has been dying since before I was born and would tell me constantly as a child how sad it was that she wouldn’t live to see me ——- (fill in the blank with milestones – drive, graduate, marry, have a family) is approaching her 91st birthday with vim and vigor. While one of my dear friends passed away from cancer at the age of 19 some 20+ years ago, and I miss him still.
Time is the one thing we have a limited supply of – yet we know not what the limit is. When it’s gone? It’s gone. But living only for today makes the later years not so wonderful if we live long – yet storing up our pleasures for tomorrow will leave regrets if we die sooner.
I live my life to the fullest every day. Nearly 6 years ago now, I came as close to dying as is possible without doing so. Through a miracle – and a very dedicated group of doctors, nurses, and medical professionals at Rose Hospital – I’m still here.
Every day since then I have viewed as “bonus time” – time that just makes each day sweet no matter how horrid it may seem in the middle of it.
If I died tomorrow? The only regrets I would have are for those I leave behind me. My life has been grand. If I live tomorrow? It will be one more day of bonus time in which I can do so many things.
Focusing on how much time we have is simply wasting it. Live to the fullest each day – but plan for the future as well – so that tomorrows can be just as grand as today.
Thank you for your comments. I greatly appreciate your sharing your wisdom with us.
Jodie, when you’re ready to visit Antarctica let me know. It’s on my list too. Knatchwa, I agree we have to make each day count, and this very moment too. Lynn, I look forward to reading your first novel. Sugar, I commend you for not leaving quietly! David, can’t wait to listen to the CD and watch you dance at 80! PPureIndulgence, ditto to you too. Spent this past Monday in a simulator flying Gulfstream 4 jets. I’d love to fly a fighter plane too so if you need a wingman, let me know. And Lucretia, I’m grateful that you’re still here. I agree that we need to live each day to the fullest and not worry about the when of life. Tomorrow is a bonus day for all of us!
Thanks again to all of you for sharing with us. Sweet dreams for now and let’s all wake up and enjoy the magic of tomorrow.
Hugs,
Gail
Congratulations, Gail!
You’ve arrived. You’re now seeing with clarity. You envision, lift others, how blessed life is!
You embrace with grace your desire to design, decisively, definitely, your destiny to dream!
Realizing your dream daily, you dare to dream more, inspiring others to achieve theirs too.
Wishing you the warmest and best belated birthday wonders of the 5-0! You look 25!
Now that you’ve experienced simulation of Gulfstream jets, no fear remains; only faith!
You’re now embarking on a new high. It gets even higher, I assure you. You deserve this.
You deserve now only the best. Empower energizing ethereal ecstasy excellently now.
Far beyond any preconceptions, you’re now choosing to feel, look younger, and better.
Those of us beyond 50 choosing life to the fullest want this life lived with healthy balance.
Health of mind, body, spirit in balance you seek now gives you each joy in your journey.
You savor this season, Gail, as you’re one millions will follow; all need your inspiration.
It’s time now for each now moment, miracles in the making, mentoring us all even more.
Thank you for showing us how, inspiring me, and many to soar at even greater heights.
Fighter planes heights have nothing on you. Your spirit has already soared to the highest.
You’ll continue now to realize more dreams than ever; your role is inevitable, joy is yours.
With love, devotion, promise to give best of gifts given me to ensure your path is power,
love, success, happiness in health, wealth, abundance blessings for you, and all you love, I am
Repectfully, your friend forever …
With happy hugs,
Zna “Trainer”
It’s not how you die but how you live. And I am conscious about living my life and intensely focusing on the many wonderful moments I have been able to celebrate with family, friends and even ‘strangers’ I have met along the way. Also I work with teenagers and I know many people don’t want them to recall those years in their life. But I try to help them create inspirational and happy moments that they will always cherish and want to remember.
I am a dreamer and do’er. Almost as fast as I can think of an interesting experience I would truly love to do I try to set it in action. Right now I am doing it for a holiday I want to take abroad for a few months. I thought of it about a month ago and it kept coming back so I am like I am going to do it. As for something outrageous..I don’t necessarily know that it is altho other people think so. They say that the most important developmental years in ones life is the first 5 years you are on Earth. So I always thought when I decide to have a child or children, I would take them off the power grid 🙂 and sail around the world in a boat with them. Hopefully they would develop a deeper connection with Mother Earth, family, be culturally aware and sensitive plus fully engage their senses with everything and everyone around them no matter how simplistic those things might seem to some.
Amazing how the slogan Celebrate Life makes its way around the world. Each and every one of us should take the time to celebrate each minute of each day. There are even car magnets out that say “Celebrate Life” they are yellow flowers with the words in red inside. Really powerful message!! Thanks for sharing.