We
live in a time when our life can change suddenly and without warning. This
is the lottery generation when a simple piece of paper can make you rich
and launch you into a completely different social status. This is the
stock market generation when a jump in stock value followed by quick sale
can make you a millionaire or put you in the poor house overnight. This is
also the generation where people live in fear of catastrophe every time
they drive a car, walk down a street at night, go to work or merely go to
sleep at night in the privacy of their own home. Change often comes
suddenly and without warning.
Too often I have
spoken to people who were distraught at the loss of a loved one and who
were beating themselves up for not spending more time with them in the
final days before their death. They spend agonizing days, weeks and
sometimes years in what I call the “If I knew it would be the last
time...” depression.
Many years ago I
decided that I would adopt the “What if this is the last time...”
philosophy of life. I have discovered that it leaves me at peace with the
world more often and provides me with a healthy perspective on life. It is
difficult at times to maintain this philosophy, and every so often I find
myself regretting some action or comment that I have made. At those times
I say to myself, “What if this is the last time I ever see that person?
Is that how I want to be remembered, or how I want to remember him/her?”
I invite my readers
to consider adopting this philosophy, even for a short trial period. See
if it changes the way you look at life.
When you tuck your
child in tonight, ask yourself what you would do if you knew this might be
the last time you ever saw your child fall asleep. Would you give him/her
an extra hug? Would you take a few minutes to lie beside your child? Would
you be in such a hurry to get back to the television set?
When you leave for
work in the morning, if you knew this might be the last time you ever said
good-bye, would you get up a few minutes earlier so that you would have
time to say good-bye to everyone and wish them all the best for the day?
Would you say, “I love you” one extra time to your spouse? Would you
get upset because your favourite shirt wasn’t ironed? Would you smile
and wave as you were pulling out of the driveway?
When you have an
argument or disagreement with a friend, a co-worker, or a loved one, if
you knew this might be the last time you would see that person, would you
make an extra effort to solve the problem before you left? Would you
apologize for your actions or comments before you left? Would you roll
over and go to sleep knowing that you have upset your spouse?
You must always
remember that tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Today may be the last
day of your life or the last day in the life of a loved one. You may never
get a second chance to say, “I love you”; to spend time with your
children; to spend time with your spouse; or to spend time with your
parents.
So if you are
waiting until tomorrow to do something special for a loved one, why not do
it today? If you want to say you are sorry for something you did, why not
do it today? If you have been trying to find time to make that phone call
or write that letter, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes,
you will surely regret that you didn’t take the extra time to grant to
someone, what may have turned out to be their last wish.
Have
a good week!
