Make Memories - Not Regrets

Time. That precious, untouchable commodity we never seem to have enough of.

Lately, it feels like it is moving at warp speed, as one day quickly fades into another, and before we know it - we are in to another week, another month, another year.

One would think people would treasure time and value it, knowing it can be gone in an instant. Yesterday will never return.

Unfortunately, we all will go through our time as if we have a never ending supply. We put off "until tomorrow" that which we should have done yesterday.

In reality, does tomorrow ever really come? Or are we perpetually stuck in today?

For me, the days have felt like I'm stuck in the movie "Groundhog Day". You know, the one - where Bill Murray is waking up day after day in the same day.  It's Monday and then before I know it - it's Monday again.

There are so many things I want to do - I really need to do. And yet, there is never enough time to do them.

We think we will have more time - tomorrow.

The problem with that scenario is we never "take the time" to do them. Unfortunately one of the greatest losses in that reality is the time we lose with those we care about.

I'll call them tomorrow. I'll go see them tomorrow.

And if tomorrow doesn't come? That's when regret invariably will rear its ugly head. Especially when the possibility of a tomorrow abruptly ends.

Time after time, when someone passes away, those left behind are left with regret. All of the "I should haves" come rushing in. Now, it is too late. The opportunity is gone.

All of the putting it off or sometimes it is anger or a simple misunderstanding that gets in the way. It's amazing to me that a country which longs for more technology, more communication devices, has such difficulty in just communicating.

Some would rather do anything than simply say "I'm sorry" or "I forgive you". They hold on to their anger like it is a badge of honor. Ironic since honor has nothing to do with it. They refuse to give someone grace even while they themselves would expect grace from others.

In either case, the outcome is the same - we lose time. Precious time we could be spending in a better place than "I'm too busy" or "I'm mad."

Since losing my husband and then my daughter I have been blessed with those who have taken time to check in with me and be there for me. When my husband, Mike, passed away, I started getting text messages from a woman who I have never met in person. She and her husband were friends of Mike's. Every day, without fail she sends me a good morning text. She has continued to do so since he passed almost six years ago. I still have never met her.

That one text has been a lifeline for me. She takes the time to be there for someone else - it has meant the world to me.

What if we all took the time? If we all said the heck with tomorrow - let's take care of that today?

Today, because we may not have tomorrow. Make memories, not regrets. Treasure each moment you have with your family and friends. Treasure those moments just "being present". Enjoy a sunrise. A sunset. Don't just stop and smell the roses - take it all in.

As the saying goes, "dance like no one is watching". Laugh. Try something new. Visit somewhere you've never been.

It's called life - and we should be taking time to live it. Not regret it.