CARPE DIEM   

 

Are YOU ready?

    rosprynn  (c) 2005

 

 

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

~ James Dean ~

 

I found this quote on a board today, and it was quite a coincidence! I have no dirty dishes in my sink today; and yes, my house is cleaned.  Need I tell you?

The lucy bratdog has gone into shock now that the vacuum cleaner comes out often and I am always at the sink washing dishes.  Dirty laundry? Thing of the

past here!   

 

What brought about this change of behaviour?  Welllllllllll.....over the last few months many people have come and gone out of my life, and I have heard of others who have 'lost' loved ones. One night recently I remembered something that happened back when I was a landlord. I was called by a tenant, who said she hadn't seen her neighbour for three days. She was concerned.  So intrepid even then, I got the master key and went to investigate. I found Mrs...lying on her bed.  She had been 'dead' three days.  In her apartment were signs of a life interrupted. Breakfast stuff still on her table. Signs of projects she was obviously in the middle of, evidence of a life not expecting to be finished anytime soon. I called her sons, and it was their task to collect her life treasures. At the time, I hadn't really given much thought to the journey we all continue on after we leave this life classroom, but I had given some thought as to what I would leave as a legacy for my child. 

 

These last few weeks I have had cause to re-examine that whole concept of legacy, of what each of us leave behind as footprints on the world, and I can tell you, mine doesn't include dirty dishes. 

 

None of us can know how others perceive us, but we can make every effort to be mindful of we impact others.  As we go through the ebb and flow of daily life here, how different this world would be if we each lived as if every day was our last?  I don't mean just wash the dishes, vacuum the floors, I DO mean wash out any leftover anger, vacuum out the detritus of unloving, thoughtless behaviours.

 

I remember a while back reading on a board (somewhere :P) a woman was worried about how God will judge her when she dies.  I wanted to call out to her. 

Instead of worrying about that future date - could be tomorrow, could be ten years from now - why not live every day as if 'today's the day'?

 

I know no one is judging any of those souls who just went through the earthquake and mudslides on whether they had dirty dishes.  I can guarantee every single one of them is being mourned, remembered as to HOW they lived their lives.

 

For me, the clean dishes are symbolic. Rather than clean up the physical remnants of my life, I would rather those who love me remember instead the laughter, joy we shared; the compassion, the reverence for each other. And, of course,  the never-ending dreams we shared 'so deep within the human heart where only love can go'. I AM ready now.  Are you?