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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
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.
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