I've heard the saying "Stop and smell the roses" over and over again in my 24 years, but it never hit home until today. I realized that even though I am getting a lot of things done and working on even more, that my whole life is one "To Do" list after another. Making a list of what needs to be done works for me, so when one list is completed I make another and that's how I stay on track.I even have to put things like "Go see Grandma" on the list or it won't get done in the whirlwind of my life and you would think that having to do that would make me realize that things are getting out of hand. Yet still, "Me time", "Play with the boys in the backyard" or even "Take a shot, roll up and enjoy the new house" is on the list or even remotely close to making the list.
Like Wayne said "I wake up in the morning, take a piss and wash my hands, take a knee and thank the man and get back to the money!" And without a doubt, everyday that's what I do. I get back to the money, to my son, to my family and friends, to my house and to whatever else needs to be done because I don't know who else is going to do it. I forgot that He would. I had to realize that all my running and trying to fit everything into one day/week/month may be because of a lack of faith. I won't say lack of because I still believe, but I often take on a lot thinking that I have to do everything myself. I forget that I'm not working alone on these things and He is here with me. I forgot that He works with me on so many things not so I can say I did this or that, but so that I can enjoy the fruits of my labor and my life. I forgot that I only live once and while there are things that need to be done, I have to live this one life at the same time.
I recently asked someone about a friend of his and he said "She's not doing to good. She just got laid off." I expressed my sympathies but asked how she was doing otherwise and he couldn't tell me. The friend has turned into one of those people who are consumed with work but when the job was gone so was her life. I don't want to be one of those people. I don't want my obituary to list job after job, accomplishment after accomplishment and have a funeral full of former co-workers, bosses and friends who I haven't had time for. I want people to be able to say they enjoyed me while I was here or that I'm somebody who they will miss and who was loved and all that good stuff. Not, I worked a lot and had a bad attitude because I was so stressed while working. It's bad enough that I won't be able to smell the flowers people will bring to me when I pass, so I might as well go out and smell my own while I'm able.
