Make Today for Today

posted by blair on 8th, 2010

Go ahead! Call me a wimp for thinking it is cold outside. I may have been born in Northern Georgia but my veins were raised on Florida temperatures, the unexpected temperatures that are causing our current longer than normal cold front.

It’s funny when you go outside after having 40 degree temperatures and realizing 59 actually feels pretty good.

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, I want to talk about resolutions this year and why I chose one that I hope to continue the whole year.

I passed the typical ones that everyone uses (including myself, though I always forget it) such as losing weight, cutting habits and giving more to charity. I focused instead on having one that I hope defines all of those resolutions and anything else that comes along.

My resolution for 2010 is to . . . just live.

As the Nickelback song, “If Today Was Your Last Day” asks, would you donate every dime you have, leave old pictures in the past, call up friends you have never seen and forgive your enemies? As cheesy as some might find that song, I think in the present times that an example of hope is expressed in that song.

With the song in mind, I plan to do just what it asked. So far I think I’m on the right track. I’m planning on being part of a local charitable organization this year and have started de-cluttering my apartment to get rid of things I don’t need or don’t ever use.

When I go shopping, I’ll see items that I want but I stop myself with a little bit more ease now to ask ”Do I really need that?” I’ve even done that for purchasing DVDs, which my friends, family and co-workers can attest that I am a movie buff.

Items I have seen that I do purchase are usually what I think others would want for their birthdays, anniversaries or because they need something to brighten their day. The happiness on their face when receiving the gift is their gift to me.

Most of all, I have reconnected with people that I may have ended on uncertain terms with and found that they were willing to talk with me as I was with them. facebook has definitely helped in that department as I have been able to correspond with friends that are elsewhere in the state or country but were available as though I were sitting right across from them to talk and catch up.

I have also worked on my patience issues and even called to apologize for the times that my temper got away from me (and it has on more than one occasion).

Why did this come about? I think it is a mixture of realizing how precious life is and how cloudy our path seems ahead of us. I feel better knowing that God is leading my path (through thorns and all) but there can be times that I question what will happen next.

That is why I plan to focus this year on the day I’m living in and try to make the most of each day. As my dad says, I’ll smile every chance I get and know that the next day is a day in itself. If I want to call someone, I’ll call them. If I want to help an organization during the weekend, I will. If I want to have a night or weekend to myself, I’ll have it.

Life’s too short so I want to just live to tomorrow and know that when it is my time to go, I lived life right every day. Even during the chilly ones!