Life is a Gift

The other morning I was driving Susan to work just before eight o'clock. We were the first car in the right lane, waiting for the light to change on Johnson St. at Government. The light turned green and a car raced through from the left at the last second, in front of us. I was about to go when the car in the lane beside me honked their horn (which made me hesitate stepping on the gas pedal). Another car raced through the intersection going in the same direction as the first car.

I have to tell you that it scared the crap out of me. I was paying attention to the first ass who went through the red light instead of checking the intersection for more cars. If the car beside me hadn't honked their horn, we would have been t-boned and with how fast the second car was going, I doubt if we'd have got out with our lives.

Driving the next four blocks to where Susan was working, two more people ran red lights in front of us (was there a full moon or something?). I guess everyone was in a hurry that morning.

I was telling a friend about this incident later that day and he told me that would have been "it". That statement shook me up. When the incident happened, I thought to myself that we could have died but when someone else said the same thing, it somehow made it more real.

I know that I keep going back to the same theme with my posts here, but life is precious and you never know when it's going to come to an end. We have to savour every moment and be thankful for the time we have because we never know how long it will last. Each day is a gift.

I found a motivational poem which sums up my feelings for how I want to be living each day. It is by an unknown author but is very meaningful. The title is:

"A New Day"

This is the beginning of a new day.
I have been given this day to use as I will.

I can waste it, or use it.
I can make it a day long to be remembered for its joy, its beauty and its achievements, or it can be filled with pettiness.

What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, but I shall hold something which I have traded for it.

It may be no more than a memory, but if it is a worthy one I shall not regret the price.

I want it to be gain not loss, good not evil, success not failure.