No Regrets

I have the wonderful privilege of being related to Bethany Anne. She is my cousin and she, her siblings, my brothers and I have practically grown up together. Recently, Beth emailed me her thoughts on a study her church was doing. I found the email profound and incredibly thought provoking. I believe this is worth sharing and I hope you take something from this.

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"At church tonight, we started a new series called One month to live. It gives insight into how one would live their life if they knew they only had one month left to live. Tonight's lesson was called, Living the dash. Our Associate Pastor, Shane, said how sometimes he drove through one of our cemeteries and looked at the inscriptions that were on the stones. He observed that no matter what was written about the person, there was one thing that was synonymous throughout them all. they read something like this. Bethany Bell
1993 - _______
And from the time you were born to the time of your death was simply represented by a single dash. Though we have no control over when we are born or when we die, what we do in between is entirely up to us. He then gave several scripture points on how Jesus lived his life, and how we should attempt to mirror how he lived and eventually died. So, I thoroughly enjoyed the service, and it gives one alot to think about.

What would I do if I only had one month left to live?

One Month:

1. I would cry for about an hour because, well, duh! I am dying.
2. I would call( text, email) everyone I know and care about and tell them how much I love and care about them.
3. I would apologize to the people I have wronged, and ask for their forgiveness, and do the same with God.
4. I would go outside on a rainy day with my iPod and just dance till I passed out.
5. I would enter a 100 contests, because ( what the heck) I might win something.
6. I would take every penny I had and go to Europe. Mainly France, Italy, Cuba ( I think that's in South America), and to Jamaica where my mother was born. I would take my family with me.
7. I would track down some TV show host or somebody and make them put me on TV.
8. I would blow off all my homework and forget about the PSAT!!!
9. I would go to CA and visit my friend Rachel, who I have know for five years and never seen.
10. I would finally go on a real roller coaster. Sure, I would scream bloody murder, but it would be worth the experience all the same.
11. I would pray for inspiration and try and write MY song, the song I feel expresses who I am completely.
12. I would visit the Sistine chapel, and the Louvre in Paris.
13. I would pack up the majority of the things that I own, go to a third world country and give them all away.
14. I would go to Africa and hold an orphan child in my arms, and whisper to them that it was going to be all right.
15. I would thank God for giving me such an amazing life.
16. I would put together a video of myself for my family to look at and always remember.
17. I would smile as much as possible, laugh even more, love as hard as I could, and dance to all my favorite songs.
18. I would kiss someone, because really, is it fair to die with out being kissed?
19. I would visit the Grand Canyon, and Niagara Falls.
20. I would buy a grand piano and play more beautifully and fully then I ever have before."

What would you do if you had one month to live?

Strive to live your life in such a way that you harbor no regrets at the end of it.

"Life is too short for drama and petty things, so Kiss slowly, Laugh insanely, Love truly and Forgive quickly..."

blessings,
Alena