We have all heard the saying "cats have nine lives" but we also all know that we humans don't have nine lives. We have one. What are you going to do with that one life?
As cliche as this quote from Florence Nightingale is it has become one of my favorite daily reminders. So many people go through life each day mopping and wishing for better things. Now, it's totally normal to have a bad day and to sulk but next time that happens I encourage you to take a step back. When we look at our life and the time, we have on this earth it is so short. In the grand scheme of things our lifespan is so small. This isn't a new discovery; humans have known for many years now that life doesn’t go on forever. If life went on forever and ever it wouldn’t be so special. Knowing this, why do we waste so much time sulking, wishing, and fearing the unknown instead of smiling, doing what we want, and trying new things? Why do we continue to live our life halfway rather than living it to the fullest?
Truthfully, this concept is still something I struggle with. I sulk when things don’t go the way I expected. I wish and dream about cool places I want to travel and things I want to accomplish. I even fear things that are new and upcoming. There have been moments when I would rather remain the same than face something new but that isn't living. These feelings are one reason why this quote has been so inspiring to me lately. My goal is to live my life and to never forget how blessed I am to have the splendid gift of life.
When I was younger, I never really thought about death or losing the people I loved. I lost my godfather when I was in the sixth grade but at the time, I didn’tfully understand what was happening. My uncle Clint, my godfather, was the silliest, kindest, and one of the greatest people I have ever known. To know him was to love him and I am so grateful to have had him in my life. Losing him was hard and there are so many times, especially recently, when I wish he were still here to make me laugh and watch me go through college and chase my dreams. I can't bring him back but what I can do is live my life in honor of him and remember all the light he brought into the world. I know he is watching down on me and all his friends and family. Life is so special; yet it is something so many of us take for granted every day. I know he is happy in heaven, and he is home, but I am sure Clint would have loved to be with us here for a bit longer. God's timing surprises us all. Clint taught me to love life and to live life. There was never a moment when Clint was sad, at least not to my recollection. He was sickbut he was alive and happy to live every day with the people he loved. Clint was the life of every family gathering and is one of the greatest angels God has up there by his side. I really believe he is like my guardian angel, watching down on me, and cheering me on.
My senior year of high school one of my best friends was in the hospital fighting leukemia. Don’t worry, Julia is doing so great now and inspires me, and many others more than I think she realizes. She is going to school, and she is living her life to the absolute fullest. When she was fighting cancer and when I visited her in the hospital, I became very aware of how short life is and how for some it can be cut even shorter. One minute she was a seventeen-year-old planning senior year out and the next she was living in a hospital fighting one of the hardest battles imaginable. Julias ability to stay so strong amid all she went through is one of the most inspiring things I carry with me every day. Every time I visited her, she made jokes, smiled, and she always remained so hopeful and strong. Julia taught me and continues to show me that life is special, and our health is one thing we should never take for granted or put at risk.
God’s timing may not always seem clear and at times the path he has lined out may make absolutely no sense, but we must have faith and live the life he has blessed us with. I am in no way qualified to speak on scripture and believe me I have and continue to struggle with my faith and understanding of it all. What I can say is that I believe God has a plan for all of us and he cares for all of us. God gave each of us a beautiful life full of opportunity, lets live it and take advantage of all the opportunity.
Like the quote says, “Life is a SPLENDID gift”. The moment we all realize the truth and reality within those words we will all be so much better off. So many people leave this earth every day. If you are reading this, you still have your life, your gift is still right in front of you just waiting to be opened, loved, and lived. Live for yourself and live for those you’ve lost; they would want you to. We don’t have nine lives, we have one, make the absolute most of it.
I love you all
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