“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’” - Erma Bombeck
Life is so short, and we waste so much of it… Petty squabbles, misunderstandings of our making, pointless intrigues, endless sulking over nothing, silly arguments, dead-end selfishness. One day we shall wake up to die and only then realise how much we have missed out on. On our deathbed we shall regret all that we have wasted. But then it will be too late.
Now is the time to seize the opportunities life is handing out to us most generously! Now is the time to live life fully. Enjoy what is offered you! Be generous to others and life will be generous to you. Give freely of yourself to others and others will do the same for you! Smile, do something for someone without expecting anything in return. Be kind rather than nasty – it really does take less effort and it feel a lot better too!
What else but the divine Bach today! Here is the second movement of his Concerto of Oboe in D Minor.
I love that you quoted Erma Bombeck. I enjoyed her books when I was younger. Something she said when she was diagnosed with cancer has influenced my life: "Burn the nice candles." She was talking about how we often like to save the lovely things we have for holiday or that we receive as gifts, and we like to save them for "later". She told of finding a treasured candle and discovered it was so dusty, it could not longer be displayed or even used. The quote you began with here is here extension of that thought to herself. Don't waste anything we are given - it's all meant to be used and is worthless if we just let it gather dust.
ReplyDeleteYour second paragraph resonates with me as well. I am so convinced much of what we get so emotional over is just nothing. I endorse what you are saying. Kindness (and courtesy, even to strangers), is easy.
Oh yes! How true this is! If only people would just stop and think for a moment and DO what you say... How much better this world would be!
ReplyDeletePS: And what a beautiful piece of music this is too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nicholas!
agree
ReplyDeletecarpe diem
love peace