Don’t Wait for a Special Occasion…for Everyday is Special

26 Jul

Not this year…maybe someday…When I have time…I’m so busy…when I have the money…

These are words we usually hear ourselves saying when we want to go out on a vacation, when we have to spend time with friends, when we need to take time to be with our loved ones, when we want a certain goal…We are always waiting…most of the time, passively waiting, only to realize we lost our time, and our chance to do all those things. If we always wait, that next year…that time…that someday…may never come…

Last night, I heard a good speech  from a fellow Toastmaster, Jay Picardal. His speech had so many gems, that I forgot that I also need to check on the germs 🙂 He talked about different life lessons…and not waiting for a special occasion to do things. It made me remember this story I read 5 years ago.

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package: ‘This’ – he said – ‘isn’t any ordinary package.’ He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. ‘She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. ‘Well, I guess this is it.’ He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died.. He turned to me and said: ‘Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion’. I still think those words changed my life. Now I read more and clean less. I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day… I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it. I don’t save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. The words ‘Someday…’ and ‘ One Day…’ are fading away from my dictionary. If it’s worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.. I don’t know what my friend’s wife would have done if she knew she wouldn’t be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I’d like to think she would go out for Chinese food, her favorite. It’s these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

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