More Sunny Days

I just recently started reading the book "One month to live" by Kerry and Chris Shook.

In just a short amount of time this book has challenged me to look at my life in a way I would normally not have. I have been challenged in ways that I didn't think were possible. This book presents me with the questions "What would I do if I were to find out I only had 1 month left to live?"and "Am I getting the most out of my life?"

In today's chapter I was presented with a task. That task was to think of a symbol or metaphor that would describe my life and to make it as unique as myself. I have thought about that for the last few hours and really searched for an answer that means the most to me. And I thought I would share my answer with you.

I would most describe myself and my life like the weather. The weather is very rarely ever the same each day. It may seem the same but if I stop to pay attention, the start to each day brings a change in the clouds, the temperature, and both the direction and speed of the wind. These changes effect people in ways both big and small.

Think of it like this for a moment. It's Monday morning and after a short weekend of relaxing and spending time with the family it's time to get back to the hustle and bustle of daily work. So you get up ready to face yet another week but before entering the world you stop to check what the weather outside is suppose to be like. It wouldn't make any sense to wear a jacket, 2 layers of socks and some ear muffs if it was going to be 80 degrees outside. Of coarse this situation is different based on the season. But no matter what the season you always make sure to be prepared for your day.

I view myself like the weather because no matter what season it is or what my mood is like that day, when I enter a room I have the ability to change the atmosphere of that room. If I am in a bad mood (or dark like the rain) people are going to feel that and be more cautions to protect themselves, so that my negative mood doesn't "rub off" on them. If I enter a room with a smile on my face (like the sun) people are going to be more comfortable with my presence. And if I enter the room quiet with no expression people are left to wonder what is on my mind just like they would wonder if it were going to rain if the weather outside is (cloudy).

My goal in the next few weeks is to really try to pay attention to those things around me that have the ability to change my mood and focus on figuring out whether or not they are really that important to me. Am I allowing the small things around me to effect the mood I have when I leave one room and enter another? I think too many times in life we allow the things around us to effect our mood and we allow our feelings or emotions to get in the way of making the most of our day. Our days here are numbered, and what we do with our time here is important. When we allow the small things to get in our way we loose out on precious time that is gone forever. We can not change the past for it is gone, and we are not promised tomorrow. So we must learn to make the most out of today.

Pope Paul VI once said "Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit,every minute of every day. Do it, I say! Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows"

I have found much meaning in those words today. I have thought about the many things I say I will start tomorrow because I have so much happening today, when really I have plenty of time to get those things done. I need to start saying I will get those things done today and I may find that I have accomplished more in this journey called life. I challenge you today to stop and take a moment to think about something you continue to say you will do tomorrow and get it done today.

Until next time...Love and Peace

~Amber~