The
end of the Mayan calendar has people thinking, and joking, that the
world will end December 21, 2012. Between this and recent events, both
personal and public, I have this song stuck in my head.
It drives me crazy, but it also makes me think. I’m sure millions of other people have also contemplated this lately. If the world were to end Friday, what would I do differently?
My first thought, shamefully, is that there wouldn’t be any consequences for my actions, so I could do anything I wanted. I would have total and complete freedom. With total and complete freedom, what would I do? I would quit my job, travel the world, and see everything there is to see. Then I realized that that’s not very radical and I don’t know that it would be all that fulfilling when you consider that the world is ending. So then I looked at it more realistically and realized that, if I knew that the world were ending on Friday, I would spend these last days, hours with loved ones. That’s all that really matters in this life. A bucket list is nice to have and goals and dreams are a human need, but the reason we’re here is to interact with one another and take care of each other. The meaning of life is relationships. Would I have any regrets? No, not one. There are things in my past that I wish hadn’t happened or that I would have handled differently, but they’re all in the past and there’s nothing to be done about them. I’ve made my peace with my mistakes and learned from them. There is nothing to regret because I say what needs to be said, I feel what needs to be felt, and I always try to do the very best that I can.
Hope to see you December 22nd, but just in case the world does end on the 21st, I just want to say “Hugs, kisses, and I love you. I’ll meet you on the other side.”
Shari
This is so true! I agree 100% that spending time with loved ones is the most important thing :) And aren't we lucky to have these loved ones?! You are one of mine, and although we don't get to meet physically, I love every moment spent with you, my friend. If the world ends, I will also have no regrets. What a blessing to be able to say that!
ReplyDeletebeautifully put! i can say that i've done my best all along. so grateful for the ones i love.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'm as far along as you are regarding the no regrets, but I do know I would have many more if I didn't believe in nothing ventured nothing gained! And I echo your conclusion about what is important. I firmly believe that the quality and depth of our lives will be in exact proportion to the quality and depth of our relationships. I believe this is what's at the core of the ever increasing killings we see. Regulations will change nothing - relationships will change everything. "Love one another as I have loved you."
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