Living

We used to car pool when my child was in the first grade. There was a little girl in kindergarten who lived nearby, one of her parents was Japanese and the other American. They were nice people, dependable, good parents, and always friendly. Last week the American born parent was killed in a tragic accident, leaving a 7 year old and a 4 year old child.

He woke up, got ready for work like he probably did countless days, saying goodbye and heading out the door. No big deal. Only on this day his number was up. He sat on the bus, in the wrong seat, the doomed seat. A truck crashes into the bus not more than a couple of blocks away from his home. There were a few minor injuries, and he was crushed by the weight of the truck and killed. The sole fatality.

What a horrific accident, a terrible tragedy. This person was a happy go lucky type, full of energy and quick with a smile. Now he will never see his children again. Just like that his children lost a parent and he will never be able to tell anyone that he loves them. Not his spouse, his parents, brothers and sisters, and worst of all, not his children.

This blog is about living. The easiest thing to say is that we should live each day as if it was our last, always getting the most joy and fulfillment out of life because you never know when your time is up. Life doesn't work that way, in my opinion. Day in and day out we just can't live, most all of us, as if we might die tomorrow.

So what can we do? My advice is to do whatever you can to make your dreams come true. Change from work you don't like to something more suitable, or start a new business if that is your calling. Take that dream vacation or start that hobby. Your circumstances will dictate some limitations, no doubt. Just don't sit there doing the same old thing out of inertia. Set goals and take actions and see how things go.

Above all, give your spouse and kids a hug and tell them you love them. Every day if possible, just in case.