Have You Been Sentenced To Death?

"There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them." - Charles DillnnIn the movie Last Holiday, Queen Latifah plays a woman (Georgia Byrd) who has been diagnosed with cancer. Her doctor tells her that she only has 3 to 4 weeks left to live. Upon getting the news she decides to go all out and live like she's never done before. She's going to go out with a bang. She cashes in her 401(k) and buys a ticket to the Czech Republic where she eats at an exclusive restaurant, resides in a luxurious hotel, goes skiing, and gets spa treatment. She made the choice to live her best life and live like she had nothing to lose. Watching the movie made me think, "Do we really have to be diagnosed with a terminal illness and given just a few days to live before we decide to actually live?" n I don't have to tell you that tomorrow is not promised to you. nWe can only do what we can do today. Yesterday is gone forever. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. Make the decision today to do that which you've been planning for and dreaming about. Georgia took the doctor's news as a wake-up call: It's time to get busy living. You don't have to be reckless, just make some time every week to do something fun, inspiring, and creative. In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron advises us to make weekly "play dates". You can do anything you want on this day. Go to an art class, see a movie, go for a long walk. Other than emergencies, make this a date that you don't break. What often happens with us "grown folk" is that we get so caught up in the rat race that we forget there's a whole world out there for us to enjoy. For Georgia Byrd, it took getting tragic news for her to open her eyes and appreciate the beauty of life. If you feel like your life is boring and you're not happy, it's up to you to make it worth living. Robert Cody said, "Have the courage to live. Anyone can die." Have courage and step out on faith. Remember that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life". Choosing to live, Derek nn n