Thoughts on life

I stood alone early this morning on top of a parking structure to experience the lunar eclipse, and record photos of the event. I wondered how many thousands of people slept through the eclipse, not even aware that it was happening.

Most people seem to avoid real life experiences. That amazes me. We are only given this one life to live. The goal should be to take in as much of this life as possible, to experience all the joy, and even the pain, that makes this life worth living.

Do you ever stop and just smell the world in the morning? The fragrance of flowers and grass and tree blossoms?

Have you ever stopped to listen to the sounds around you—the birds singing, and the insects humming to warm up for the day?

Do you ever take note of your own breathing, and the marvel that we don’t have to think about taking the next breath? Or find a place so quiet you can hear your heart beat?

A friend stopped by to visit last week. She was puzzled that we had no television in the room. Hers is always on, even when she is trying to talk on the phone. I don’t know why she needs the noise every hour of every day.

My wife left her first husband because all he wanted to do was stay home and watch TV. At least that was what she told me. 

She wanted to go down to the ocean and play in the surf. She wanted to drive through the tunnel tree in Yosemite Park. She wanted to hike up the Mist Trail and get soaked by the spray of Vernal Falls in the spring. She wanted to peer down into the Grand Canyon. She wanted to dance all night and into the morning.

So did I. We did all that, and more.

We were made for each other.

Even with the devastation of Alzheimer’s, we still find moments to enjoy just being together and holding hands and laughing and crying together as the mood strikes us.

When this life is over we will go with few regrets. We have tried to fill our lives with all the experiences and joy we could imagine.

So many people will leave this life with only memories of TV shows and movie plots they watched at home. Seems to me that is living someone else’s life, and not your own. 

It’s not too late. Isn’t there something outside the house you have always wished you could do? There will never be a better time. In this life there are no do overs. No second chances. 

Now is the time. Get out there and live your own life!