Only a few years ago, Tim McGraw topped the charts with his song "Live Like You Were Dying." Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman portrayed two men experiencing thrilling life experiences in the movie "The Bucket List." Similarly, Mandy Moore introduced the idea of a list of experiences to check off during her lifetime in "A Walk to Remember." Of course, I can't fail to mention the well-known Latin phrase, "Carpe diem." Not only our current culture but generations and civilizations have passed along this piece of advice. Seize the day. Live life to the fullest. Don't take any day for granted, but live each day as if it were your last. Why is it, then, that we spout this idea in music, movies, and in the spoken or written word but fail to put it into practice? As a recent college graduate and new inductee into this thing we like to call "the real world," I think I have discovered one resounding answer: daily life. It's so easy to get caught up into our daily routines, our jobs, our responsibilities, and prior commitments. I will be the first to admit that I take my responsibilities seriously and wish to be successful at those things I do. In fact, I believe that this is a necessity in order to be a productive citizen and individual. Nonetheless, as another birthday rolls around, I take into account that I have reached yet another year and that my personal life list/bucket list remains rather lengthy.
Flipping to the other side of the coin, being a recent college graduate has afforded me the chance to begin a new chapter in my life and embrace a whole new set of experiences. During the past months, I have settled into a new city, added so many wonderful individuals into my circle of friends, started my career, embraced a new church family, and picked up a handful of new hobbies. One thing I have learned is that new experiences are exciting yet frightening at the same time. Perhaps this double edge sword is what draws us to add these thrilling ideas to our own life lists in the first place. I have discovered, however, that the enjoyment it has brought to my life was well worth the initial discomfort or uneasiness I might have felt. It seems to me that life would be terribly boring if we are only complacent and never take the step to make our hopes, dreams, and wishes a reality.
In a recent conversation with a friend, I similarly discussed the importance of this season in our lives as a defining period of who I will become. Just as it is easy to say that you'll begin the hobby you've always wanted tomorrow or will step out of your comfort zone next week, it's equally more comfortable to say you'll just wait until tomorrow to become the person you truly wish to be. I choose now, this very day and moment, to take the next step in continuing to become a woman I'm proud of. If I know that I want to known as a loving Christian, friend, daughter, teacher, coworker, etc, who makes a difference in the lives of others, then I must make every day count beginning with this one. No matter who you are or where you've been, God showers us with grace and lets us each make a new beginning in Him. Yet again, I stand in awe of my wonderful Savior!
Tim McGraw sang the words, "Live like you were dying." I love his music, but I'm going to have to disagree with his lyrics on this occasion. When I look back on my life someday, I don't want to say that I lived as if I were dying. Why wait until the end when you can begin now? Instead, I want to know that I woke up each day and lived like I was really alive! And as for that life list, hopefully I will have taken care of that each and every step along the way.
Until next time......carpe diem!
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