Someday Syndrome
Life is short. How many times have we heard this? Or the story of the guy on his deathbed. What does he say? “I wish I could have spent one more day at the office?” Of course not! He thinks about the family he could have taken better care of or spent more quality time with or perhaps all of the opportunities he passed up because of fear or not seizing the moment…that one window of opportunity lost.
A horrific tragedy struck one of our students today. God bless him and his family. Oh man, this has been tough. Our President, Dr. Kevin Kirk and our Director of Student Services, Jamie Kidder are remarkable individuals and two of Oklahoma’s greatest gifts. I couldn’t do what they do and OH, how I admire them. It is during these times that we realize how fragile this existence really is and wondering to ourselves as to why we haven’t maximized all that life has graciously offered to us.
Ask yourself if you are spending time with the people you care most about. If you are not; change immediately…don’t waste another minute. If you are holding a grudge against a friend or family member, let it go and reconcile now. If you’ve done something to hurt a loved one, ask for forgiveness. If you have that nagging feeling that you should be calling a friend or family member, make an appointment on your calendar (this week) and do it. A huge burden will be lifted….please trust in me. Feeling guilty is an internal gift that you have to listen to.
Many of us at the college enjoy Harvey MacKay’s weekly column in the local newspaper. He has it all figured out! His book, “Swim with the Sharks”, was my first business book to read and I’ve been a fan of his customer-focused opinions ever since. His writing is straightforward (too many sports analogies, however, for my taste), but reflective. This is my favorite quote by Harvey: “Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”
Someday Syndrome: “Someday I’ll… finish school, I’ll eat well and exercise, I’ll visit my brother’s grave, I’ll be my own boss, I’ll have time to travel, I’ll get married, I’ll have the money to take time off, I’ll quit smoking, I’ll quit enabling, I’ll dump the loser I sleep with, I’ll get saved, I’ll write that book, I’ll start cooking, I’ll quit cussing, I’ll be a foster parent, I’ll buy a house, I’ll be an involved Mom, I’ll learn…..”
STOP. Please Stop. Stop making excuses and start living! You may not get the opportunity tomorrow.
And…that is my cue to say goodbye and go do something I’ve been meaning to take care of. Talk to you next Friday!
WoW! That was so passionate Teresa! Thank you for reminding us of what is most important in life. For me, I find that sometimes I feel as if it’s too “late” at night to read that bedtime story to my kids because they need their sleep so they aren’t grouches in the morning. However, I stop myself and think “It’s never too late at night to see the smile on their faces”. And besides, it’s their teachers that get to see their “grouchy” faces the next day…LOL! 🙂
Let the people say……….AMEN! This message should be required reading.
Amen Teresa! Suddenly I have a lump in my throat and a feel a need to hug my loved ones!
I whole heartly agreed on everything. When I pass from this world, I do not want it being said, ” she lived for her job, her son or her dog”. I want to be remember as having lived for my Lord and in doing so, sharing myr love of Christ,my job,my son and yes my dog. (Chico is not a dog he is a transpecian. He is a human trapped in a dogs body).
Do want you need to while living your dreams. If you miss a few hours sleep, no big deal. Sleep is for when your dead.
Wow. Makes me think of a lot of things and people in my life I take for granted. Thanks for the reminder to all of us to remember to charish the ones we love.
Oh my… you know exactly what to say to one’s heart who just happens to have a Senior in High School in the house. Where has the time gone? It has gone with the blink of an eye. In the whole scheme of things, you are right. Sometimes we just need to figure out how to let go of trying to do so much. Thanks for the reminder.
P.S. I love the sports analogies in McKay’s column.
Love the topic Teresa. We never know when our time if up and so we must live each day to the fullest. I love Tim McGraw’s song about his love for his Dad…it says a lot of how we should maximize our day/time. A friend of mine I hadn’t heard from in 40 yrs recently found me on Facebook and we have had a fun time catching up over the pas 4 decades. Him contacting me enriched my life. Made me call a friend I haven’t talked to in years to catch up as well. Love deeply and tell those you love you love them every day. Most importantly show it in action by being a better person because of their influence on you. Have no regrets…forgive everyone…love those who curse and dispise you…I believe we are on this earth to have Joy and the best way to have joy is to have great relationships with those we love and care about.
That hits home with me. I lost my husband in 2005 after meeting over 16 years before (8th grade). He was in a car accident after working nights and he had fallen asleep and never came home. I haven’t been the same person since. A couple of years after his death when I was able to get myselft together and start living again, I decided to live every day to the fullest. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t tell my son, my mom, my new fiance that I love them. I don’t waste time with petty things and I spend all my time with my loved ones and doing things that make ME smile and laugh. I don’t sit around thinking about things I SHOULD do, I just do them now and I know what is REALLY important in life…happiness, laughter, love.