The power of determination

Even though I'm not as young as I used to be, I often find that I feel health-wise that I'm quite untouchable. I have never had any major physical health issues (mental health might be another story...I think there are definitely a few moments when I've felt insane!).

As positive as that is, it does sort of create some false sense of security. And from time-to-time, those of us healthy beings need a little reminder to bring us back to earth, back to reality, back to the fact that anything can happen to us in the blink of an eye.

In November of this past year, a girl that was in my high school graduating class died of cancer. She fought it and survived, then it returned aggressively. Sadly, it's a story that is entirely too common. We all know someone young that has been taken from us. It should come as a wake-up call to us all.

In college, a good coworker friend of mine was killed in a tragic car accident. A semi-trailer blew through a red light and t-boned the vehicle he was riding in. He spent a week in neuro-critical care before succumbing to the extent of his injuries. I keep the memorial program from his funeral tucked in the visor of my Tahoe...in hopes that when I see it, I will remember to try and make smart decisions...and that I will try not to take the brevity of life for granted.

Life is too short not to make every second count...too short not to hold on to what's dear to us...and too short not to experience as much as possible. WAY too short for the bullshit.

But enough of my inner ramblings, and on to something uplifting. Another member of my high school graduating class has also, in recent years, been fighting a cancer battle of his own. And I just saw online today, that after much of a fight on his part...he is cancer free. We are not close friends, but we come from a tight-knit community of families and neighbors back in my small Indiana hometown. And the power of this man's determination and will, with the support of his family, friends, and community, has surely paid off, and I am so happy for them all.

The thing that I have taken away from his story, and the other classmate of mine mentioned above....is that it could have just as easily been me, or someone else close to me. We should never take advantage of the life that has been given to us.

So, here is my little daily reminder to you: We aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Make today count. Tell the ones you love that you love them. Live with no regrets.

Song of the day: "Memorial" Explosions In The Sky