Live like we're dying

I have a smile on my face. I do not know why I have a smile on my face but I do. All is not right with the world and I do not know whether all my dreams and hopes well be realized and more importantly for me realized within MY timelines but I have a smile on my face.

Earlier this week, I got a peek at the anthology in which I have a poem, which will be published later this year. That was a great start to my week. I did a bit of writing and I have resolved to leave work at 4.30 p.m. each afternoon and so far so I have been doing that. Maybe not at 4.30 on the dot, but close enough.

I am acclimatizing to work. This is my third day back. One would think that 5 weeks off work is not a big deal, but on Monday I realized I had no recollection of the security code for the door to get inside my Branch. I remembered the first number but got stuck after that. Another thing, the cost of lunch at the place I usually get it has gone up and the amount of food has decreased; so you know who will not be patronizing them anymore. So twenty minutes to lunch time I had no idea what I was going to have. Eventually, I had a patty, an orange I brought from home and some peanuts. I think I am just going to have to take my own lunch from now on.

So far there have been no surprises. My phone has rung a grand total of 5 times in 3 days and once the call was not meant for me. In case you are wondering, that is a good thing because usually the phone is ringing and interrupting work.

I was just listening to Kris Allen’s version of Live Like We’re Dying and it made me think about whether I wake up each morning thinking “how I am going to turn it all around” or do I think about “how I am going to throw it all away”? How actively am I making lemonade? The fact is now, this moment, is all we have and what we do in this moment sets the tone for the moments to follow. Do we forgive in that moment where forgiveness is needed or be selfish and postpone it to another moment that may never be afforded us? Do we make sure that our loved ones feel loved or do we take it for granted that they feel the love we try to show in between appointments, crises and thoughts of there being not enough time? I think I might add that to my personal commandments – Live like I am dying.

And on the matter of living, do not forget our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The rebuilding process will take a while but we saw hope this week as an earthquake survivor was found under a collapsed market.