We are reading more and dusting less. We sit in the yard and admire the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. We spend more time with family and friends and less time working.
We realize that life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. Finally we are able to recognize these moments and cherish them.
We do not "save" anything. We use our good china and crystal for every special event.....such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first flower blossom in our gardens in the spring.
We wear our "good clothes" to the market. Our theory.....if we look prosperous, we can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries.
We do not save our good perfume or our best ties for special parties, but wear them for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on our vocabulary....if it is worth seeing or hearing or doing, we want to see and hear and do it now.
We are not sure what others would have done had they known they would not be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. We hope they would have called family members and a few close friends or called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. We hope they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was.
It is those little things left undone that would make us angry if we knew our hours were limited. Angry because we had not written certain letters that we intended to write one of the days. Angry that we did not tell our spouses, our children, and parents often enough how much we truly love them. We are trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.
Every morning when we open our eyes, we tell ourselves that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift.
People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends do not need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.