Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

Motivational Speaker

Living Each Day to the Fullest – What Does That Really Mean?

Filed under: Motivation — by at 11:42 am on Tuesday, October 5, 2010

I am writing this on my iPad, comfy in bed with my kitty Faith curled up beside me.

Why?

Last week our friend was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic and liver cancer. The doctors give him six months.

My heart goes out to him, his wife, his kids and grandkids.

How does one respond to such news? Does one crawl under the covers, thinking what is the point of doing anything? Or does one pack as much as possible into each day to create lasting memories for those left behind? And, if so, where does one even start?

I really don’t know how I’d would respond if I was in his place. And, I guess there is no way of knowing until faced with a similar situation.

I know we are suppose to live each day to it’s fullest as if it was our last. But what does that mean, really? The bills still need paying, the laundry still needs doing, the dishwasher still needs emptying. Surely I wouldn’t do those things if I knew it was my last day.

And that leads to another question: is it better not knowing how long one has? (Of course, the doctors could be wrong.) Does one live more purposefully, more consciously, knowing the end is near? Or is the joy completely drained out with the constant thought “Will this be the last time I do this, I see this. I hold her?” Or does it depend upon how one has lived the rest of his life?

I don’t know, and, perhaps, there is no way to know. Perhaps we are meant to do our best at living each day – whatever our best is, whatever is most meaningful to us, today.

So why am I writing this on my iPad in bed? No, not because I’m depressed and am hiding from the world. But rather I’ve been curious what it’d be like to climb into bed on a cold winter’s day and write without the usual distractions while sitting at my computer.

This morning I thought “why wait till winter?” Today is a good day for writing a post in bed. Without the distractions of checking email and Twitter, I’ve found I’m more focused on my words and my thoughts. And isn’t that what writing is all about? Isn’t that what living a meaningful life – focused on only the task in front of you right now – is all about?

Instead of leaving a comment or tweeting this post, I’d much rather you did something meaningful: go hug your kids – two-legged, four-legged or otherwise; go call that friend you’ve been meaning to call for eons, go write a real letter to a loved one – or whatever is most meaningful to you in this very moment.

I’m going to enjoy my kitty a little longer and read a bit more of Winnie-the-Pooh before jumping up to do the next task on my list.

If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.

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4 Comments »

Comment by Lori-ann

October 8, 2010 @ 11:06 am

You are right! So glad I read this.

Comment by Holly Salsman

October 25, 2010 @ 4:08 am

I LOVED this post Glenda! I’ve thought of that before myself… what would I do were I faced with a situation? If I was terminally ill, would I want to know? Some people have this amazing personal strength and are able to tackle it head-on, while others just give up. I’d like to think I’m the former, and hope I would be positive, but I really think it’s just one of those things you never know until it happens to you. I try to make the most of each day, not live each one like it’s my last. I have to say, it’s hard to make the most of the day when that day is housework/laundry day!!! 🙂

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