Upland, CA — I recently had a conversation with a dear friend of mine and we were reflecting on the four decades we have known one another. We talked about the things we would do better if we had a chance. After we stopped talking, we smiled and looked at each other as if a light came on for both of us at the same time and we said, we still have time. We are still here it is not too late. As we wrote our lists we laughed, cried, and shared a few of our thoughts, but I think for both of us what we cherished the most was our time together and that we had the opportunity to remind each other that nothing is ever too late if we have breath in our bodies.
There is so much going on in life that can steal our attention and joy and sometimes we do not stop long enough to give thought about the things that really matter in life and count our blessings. We talk about we love our family and friends, but does our calendar reflect that? Do we make sure we make time for them? We also talk about how much we want to help others and give back, but does our checkbooks reflect that? We say we are going to make sure things are in order in our lives so that when it is our time to go home to be with the Lord, we will not leave things in shambles or in a mess for our loved ones to figure out, but have we done that. We talk about preparing for emergencies and possible disasters, but have we made time to do that. The list can go on and on and it can make us feel overwhelmed and how do we even get started. The answer is simple just start somewhere.
When I think about the things I would like to do before it is too late, it goes beyond just what I shared above. I also want to make sure I have documented pearls of wisdom for my grandchildren and make sure I have left a trail they can follow to understand their heritage and family history. I also want to make sure I laugh more and cherish the good times with those I love and care about. I want to encourage those who cross my path that no matter what they may be going through, God will see them through. For those of us who are Christians, this is just a stop along the journey of forever and only what we do for Christ will last. We must try and be mindful of others and how we can bless them during their journey.
What do you want or need to do before it is too late? If you feel that the list is too big and you do not know where to even begin, just break it down into small boxes and think about what is the one thing you can do each week towards accomplishing your list? It can start with a phone call to a loved one and just sit and chat for twenty minutes or so. You can send a card or letter that can be read repeatedly when they are lonely. Everyone loves receiving positive mail when they go to the mailbox. You could plan a dinner at your home, and it does not have to be fancy, and invite loved ones over for a lovely evening of just being present. You can also start by putting in order all your personal business files in one location and then share that information with your next of kin, or the person you feel will be responsible to carry out your wishes. The key is we need to stop pushing things off until another day and making excuses. Just do one thing today and it will make you feel much better.
As the years continue to pass, it would be sad if we look back and we have too many regrets of what we wish we would have done. It is important to learn to live your life to the fullest each day. Thomas Jefferson said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”
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Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is a life strategist, coach, consultant, author, and speaker.
