Your Last Day

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." --Diane Ackerman

I like having deep conversations with people about this life. I'm sure the people I love most in the world would attest to this. So, I doubt my mom was surprised when I asked her what she would do if she had one day left to live. She couldn't decide how she'd spend her time. But I knew exactly how I would spend mine. 

I would get up early and watch the sun rise. I'd make my husband a big breakfast and then toss both our cell phones out the back door as we sat down to enjoy it. We'd sit at the table without worrying about all the stresses of this life. I'd tell him how much I loved him and thank him for the life he has given me. Then I'd spend the rest of the day encouraging people--doing good to them. I'd greet everyone I met with a cheerful hello and pray that when I left them they were better off than before we met. I'd call my grandparents and we'd chat about life. I'd eat dessert first. I'd laugh more. I'd cry more--mostly happy tears. I wouldn't worry about the big stuff. I'd just focus on the little things. My attitude would be one of gratitude. And I would truly live that day--not just survive. 

If I knew I had one day left to live, that's how I'd spend my last 24-hours. As I was thinking about my last day, something wonderful came over me. We don't know when our final day will arrive. But when it does, I know exactly how I want to go out. So, that's why I got up early today and stood in my backyard to watch the rising sun--which was full of pinks and purples. I crawled back into bed 10 minutes before my husband woke up so I could watch him sleep. I've made it my mission to greet everyone today with a cheerful hello. And I'm focused on being thankful for the chance to live like this for one more day. I'm not worried about buying a house (something that we've been attempting to do since April) or what tomorrow will bring. I'm just focused on the day ahead of me--on the good I can do today. And though I haven't had dessert yet, the day is still young. 

So if today was your last day, how would you spend it?