We are always told to live this day as if it were to be our last on earth. How many of us really do so?
I am truly lucky, blessed, whatever term you want. I have survived airplane wrecks. I have survived critical automobile accidents. I have survived major falls. Yesterday, I was invo
lved (not the perpetrator) in an armed robbery. Thank you, again, our Supreme Being, who has helped me survive yet another day. But, those are not really the subject today.
I have always been intrigued (and, now you know why) with the lives people lead after these major traumas. I know how my life changed after one of the airplane wrecks. (No, that is a subject for another day, perhaps.) I was desperate to study the lucky passengers (note that word again), who were saved due to the expert reactions and capabilities of Captain Chesley Sullenberger. I wanted to determine what new vectors their lives would follow.
The problem with my proposed study is simple. We can’t determine any changes
(generally) because we don’t know who is going to be subject to – and survive- a major trauma in advance. We don’t have “the visitor” like exists on Fringe (FoxTV). So, we can’t really determine what changes occur, unless someone has been examined before for other reasons. And, that means (generally) that the subject may not have been “normal”, in the first place.
Long after my wrecks (but before my newest robbery), Jeff Bridges starred in the movie “Fearless”. He and Isabella Rossellini portrayed survivors of a terrible air disaster. He felt invulnerable (like I did) and godlike (thank you, not me). He did things that would normally be considered crazy (but I understood them). I wondered how Rafael Yglesias and Peter Weir could capture my feelings- and how well Jeff Bridges (as Max Klein) portrayed them.
The one difference between Max and me was that he found himself distanced from his family. I found myself fully engrossed with them. And, again yesterday, that need expressed itself again.
Live each day fully engrossed. Make sure you take the time to be involved with your loved (and liked) ones. Or, to quote my mom (A”H), “Make sure you wear clean underwear. You could be in a traffic accident and then what?”
Roy,
You shared some great insights about living life to the fullest. Thanks for sharing!
Vicki 🙂
Vicki O’Neal Enjoy your day- every day. Take care, Vicki. I am so glad you left a comment. Thanks, RAAckerman
Well you know what they say, live as if it’s your last. But how to do that when there are limits and people around you who stop at nothing but ruin your life!
Hmmm, Thomas.
There are those sorts of people- and then it’s my job to avoid them or parry their actions to the best of my ability…
It really is hard to live life with that manta in mind. Especially if you are one of those people struggling everyday of their lives to get a decent life and never seems to be working hard enough to achieve their goals.
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But, if you don’t prepare for that, you may be leaving you loved ones in a lurch, Caitlyn!
Sometimes it takes a little push to invite change and sometimes the need for change comes with a loud bang! I’m amazed at all you have survived Roy! And glad of it. Still, your idea is interesting. How many people simply go on with their life once the initial shock is gone? How many slip right back into old habits and how many allow for great change?
I think that sometimes we get an opportunity to grasp things bigger than ourselves…it’s important to take them.
Yes, we all tend to employ inertia as our major driving force.
That’s normal, Bonnie, but not the best approach.