I was almost hit by a car this morning.
As the environmentally conscious person that I am (and lacking a driver’s license) I take the bus to work every morning. It is not a long walk but it does require that I cross a three-lane street. Two of the lanes go in the same direction while the other is in the opposite direction. I was going to cross the street at a pedestrian crossing and a car in the first lane stopped to let me pass. As I was crossing I noticed another car approaching in the second lane, so I reduced my pace while waiting for the car to slow down. I continued to walk, although slower, realizing a little too late that the car was making no effort to slow down. It approached me in an incredible speed and if I hadn’t already noticed it, I wouldn’t have been able to turn to the side just in nick of time to save my toes. I had to support my weight on the hood of the car as it came to a halt. The tires grazed my boots and my knees were shaking.
I realize that it was dark and rainy and the visibility was probably poor, but still, as you approach a crossing and the car in the lane next to you has stopped, it should be a sign for you to stop as well. –Or at least reduce your speed.
I got away with a scare and a joy of being alive and well. It also reminded me of how easily everything can come to an end. How quickly life can change. Ive always had the “live now” philosophy to life as opposed to delaying everything for later. Ive met too many people in my life who keep saying “I’ll do it later.” Or the standard: “One day I want to do that”. People take for granted that you can delay dreams and do it some other time.
It probably comes from having medical issues in my closest family. Medical issues related to the heart and nerve system. I have grown up seeing how fragile life is, and how easily the body can change from fit and healthy to weak and helpless. You can go from perfectly healthy and above average fit, to immobile and dependent on others in only a year. -Without the possibility of improvement. There aren’t medicines for every condition. Not everything can be avoided or fixed. And yes, it can happen to you as well. -Just as easily as anyone else. Instead of thinking: “That only happens to others”, I’ve changed it to: “That could happen to me as well”.
I have learned from this that life is what you have today. Your health is what you have now. Do not put off things you wish to do. Do not wait. Do it now. –Today!
For this reason I try to make the most of it. I move out of my comfort zone at work to try new things, I am continually trying to and working on becoming more spontaneous (unfortunately Im still very fond of planning), I travel to the destinations I want to travel. I don’t have a perfect economy, but I make different priorities. We don’t own a car, although it would be a great benefit to have one. Instead we spend our money traveling. People wonder how we can afford to spend two summers in a row in the US, driving from coast to coast, living in nice hotels and eating great food. We can because we buy our furniture at IKEA and take the bus to work instead of driving. We can because we buy our clothes on sale and in the cheaper stores. There is plenty of time later to buy a car or an expensive chair, -you can do that even with cancer. But the chance to travel far, to a country you want to visit, may not ever come again. You may have a child (blessings!) and suddenly a major roadtrip becomes economically and practically impossible. You may lose your job. You may get sick. You may get hit by a car...
We all live our lives differently. We make different priorities. –And there is no right or wrong way. I just wish and hope that everyone will remember that a chance may not come twice. An opportunity may have en expiration date. Don’t tell yourself that “I will do that when I retire” or “one of these days I will have to try that”.
It is far better to regret something you did, as opposed to something you wish you would have done but never did.
I for one, am planning to make 2012 a magnificent year. -A year of travels and play. -And a year of new, scary and hopefully educational experiences. I can only hope that I will be allowed to do so, and that I will leave this year even happier than I am today. This year will never come again. Imagine the opportunities!
I wish you all an Exciting and Happy 2012.
