Life is Short
Do These Things Before It's Too Late
When young, we have time on our side. Years pass, and we are still young. We take delight in how fast and far we can run. The world effortlessly runs toward us with new frontiers, teasing us from all directions. The world, indeed, has become our oyster. And we catch ourselves with our arms outstretched and slowly spin around, taking in every moment of our youth. We are on top of the world and invisible.
In the early years of our youth, we look in the mirror and smile happily because we look as young and beautiful as we did last year. We wink at ourselves and are thrilled at our youthful and gorgeous appearance, as if we had something to do with creating our immortality. But slowly, gray strands appear in our root line, and we discover lines of wrinkles slowly appearing between our brows, around our eyes, and lips.
We try to defy the early signs of aging by plucking those silver strands from our scalps and concealing the wrinkles with moisturizers and creams. Slowly we realize that it's just the beginning. As more gray hairs spring across our scalps, we feverishly pluck again and again. The wrinkles attract more wrinkles and now become bands. We pluck more gray hairs and rub more moisturizers. Finally, as rows of gray roots appear, we take drastic action and secretly apply dyes to our roots forcing the gray hair to conform to the colors of our youth. Any resistance, we crush them with our ridiculously clumsy gloved fingers.
Secretly at night, we scour the internet for anything that can prolong our youth. We start popping vitamins and various pills from Collagen to Coenzyme A. And every birthday and New Year's Eve, we rage against Father Time, kicking and screaming, trying to salvage as much of our youth from his cold decrepit hands.
Finally, I realize Father Time will eventually win. Father time is an ageless Buddhist prophet, keen on the secrets of life and a master of the universe. He travels across the earth as a Ninja, conserving every movement but covering far more ground than possible.
Father Time sat down and beckoned me to sit beside him. I hesitated at first but accepted his invitation. Part of me was weary from all the running and fighting I committed against him while growing older. He smiled and patted me on my shoulder.
He said to me, "Don't fight nature. Growing old is a part of life. And with age comes wisdom. And with wisdom comes the realization that three things matter most in life."
Never refuse a hug; always Greet with a hug.
Some people have a thing with personal space and step away from a hug. One must respect one's personal space. I, for one, have shrugged away several times and later regretted it, often with fears of sending the wrong message. That was a big mistake on my part. What better way of expressing your love for everyone around you than with a hug?
Dare to Care; Hug Like a Bear.
First, hug all the people you love and cherish around you. The more people you embrace, the more you realize how everyone around you profoundly affects your life. As we grow older, we recognize everyone plays a small part in making our world, our universe, magical, memorable, and mystical. After a while, you realize that your happiness is a result of the love that everyone has for you. We are only happy if we receive love and validation from all our friends and family. So return their love and support with a hug and a smile. You begin to realize that there are a lot of people out there who play a significant part in your life. And when you think about it, we should hug many more people around us. Did you know there is National Hugging Day? It's on January 21st. So don't wait; hug everyone who helped you thrive and reach your potential.
When you love, you share!
The most important thing about love is that you are willing to share. Sharing that magical moment when your heart sings and your soul soars to new heights. It's a rush that excites your senses. If we have something good, we want to share it with everyone we love. Children are willing to share a lick from their ice cream cone. Lovers are eager to share a magical sunset. And teachers and mentors are willing to share their time, knowledge, and experiences with their students. When there is love, we share the good that we have with others we love. So show your love by sharing your gifts.
Hug Your Kids: Kiss Your Spouse
Life is unpredictable. One minute we are running a marathon; next, we are battling cancer. No one knows how much time we have on this earth. Make the most of it with your family. I am a big proponent of family vacations. I see vacation as a family adventure. It's a week of team building and family unity. I pridefully smile as my 21-year-old daughter hugs me and my wife and says, "So, where are we going for our wedding anniversary?" I was on cloud 9 when I realized that my adult daughter wanted to spend time with us on vacation. Let's face it, once our kids reach adulthood; they can't wait to fly out of the coop and test their wings. Not my daughter. She wanted to spend her vacation time with Mom and Dad. I'm soaking up the moment with pride.
My point is your family will always be there at your side during the best of times and during the worst of times. So when times are good, capitalize on those moments and do something special with your family. Travel to places that are worthy of postcards. Make long-lasting memories and lots of them. Your career or job won't be at your bedside when your time is up. It's the faces of your family who will be smiling at you with tears in their eyes when it's your turn to depart. So spend as much time with your family as possible while healthy.
Mend the Fences Separating Those You Love
We fight over things that are not worth fighting for. Hold grudges for years. When tragedy hits the family, how can you make up for those circumstances? I have seen brothers not talk to each other for several years. And when one is stricken with illness and untimely death, the spiteful brother at the foot of the bed cries the most. Not because his brother is dying but because he wasted all those years over a silly grudge, and now he can't make up for lost time and enjoy his brother's camaraderie. Don't be that sad brother at the feet of his dying brother.
Set Your Target, Chase Your Dreams
What makes life worth living? Discovering one's purpose in living. Take some time to reflect on what you genuinely enjoy doing. How do you want to define your life? What makes you happy? What sparks your curiosity? What gives you purpose and identity in life? You can discover it, define it, and execute it. Make it your goal and pursue it with a thirst and enthusiasm. And let it define you. Creating your purpose makes your life feel like a Broadway musical where the audience sits back and applauds at every point in the play.
Dreams can be overwhelming, but breaking them down into smaller, achievable goals can make them feel more manageable. Set specific, measurable, and realistic goals that will help you move closer to your dreams. Your dreams are a marathon, not a sprint. Some parts of the run are difficult, feeling like running uphill or against the wind, but in other parts of the marathon, you think you are coasting downhill with the wind on your back. Instead, every step seems like you are gliding on air. Realize that the marathon has its ups and down; don't get phased by the hardships, take it in stride, and keep going; it will get easier just around the next corner.
"Prepare to Plan, or Plan to Fail"
I like the phrase, "Prepare to plan, or plan to fail." It sums up success. Success is not an accident but a well-tailored plan. The more details in the plan, the more likely the plan will succeed. So don't fool yourself; success is no accident.
Once you have your goals in place, create a plan of action. Identify the steps you need to take to achieve each goal, and create a timeline for completing them.
Execution
It's one thing to dream and plan, but taking action will make your dreams a reality. Start taking steps towards your goals, no matter how small they may seem. Execute, and make that first step toward your vision. Refrain from dilly dally or wandering off course. Pursue your dream with laser focus. An old Chinese proverb states, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Take that first step; the others will naturally follow.
Stay motivated
Pursuing your dreams can be challenging, and setbacks are inevitable. But it's essential to stay motivated and keep pushing forward. Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage you to keep going, and remind yourself of why you started pursuing your dreams in the first place. Remember that your life has a purpose. If you focus on your goal, nothing is stopping you.
Life is Short; Act Now
Life is short, and we never know how much time we have left. Therefore, pursuing your dreams before it's too late is essential. Life is too precious to waste on things that don't matter. Don't wait for the "right time" or the "perfect opportunity" to pursue your dreams. Instead, make the time and create the opportunity for yourself. Whether traveling the world, starting your own business, writing a book, or learning a new skill, take action toward your dreams today. Don't let fear or self-doubt hold you back. Remember that every successful person starts with a vision and tries to make it a reality. Life is an adventure, and it's up to you to make the most of it. So go out there and pursue your dreams with passion, determination, and enthusiasm.
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