Your Need To Know

With his song, “Live Like You were Dyin’”, Tim McGraw sends a message that we should really heed. Like Tim’s song, many of us will experience a much-dreaded serious accident or terminal diagnosis, and one thing is certain to occur:

We will view our ordinary life with much more appreciation. The things we take for granted will seem much more important and special. We will begin to look at each day as a gift and a miracle. All the little things that bother us won’t seem all that important or worthy of so much of our attention.
The little aggravations that we usually focus on will shrink in importance. Our attention will now be on the precious gift of life.

Live Like You Were Dyin’

I was in my early forties,
With a lot of life before me,
And a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
I spent most of the next days, lookin’ at the x-rays,
Talkin’ ’bout the options and talkin’ ’bout sweet time.
Asked him when it sank in, and this might really be the real end.
How’s it hit ya, when you get that kind of news.
Man what ya do.
And he says,

I went sky divin’,
I went rocky mountain climbin’,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu.
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying,
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin’.

He said I was finally the husband,
That most the time I wasn’t.
And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
And all the sudden goin’ fishing,
Wasn’t such an imposition.
And I went three times that year I lost my dad.
Well I finally read the good book,
And I took a good long hard look at what I’d do
If I could do it all again.
And then.

Like tomorrow was a gift and you’ve got eternity
To think about what you do with it,
What could you do with it, what can
I do with with it, what would I do with it.

I went sky divin’,
I went rocky mountain climbin’,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu.
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin’.
And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin’.

We can be fairly certain this will be our reaction to the bad news. That is how it’s been for everyone before us. So, what’s the use of waiting for a life-changing event to appreciate our lives? Why wait until were forced to realize the miracles of our lives and experience gratitude? Why wait to treasure our lives?

Definition of Gratitude

Webster’s Dictionary defines Gratitude as the state of being appreciative of benefits received or pleasing by reasons of comfort supplied. Thankfulness.

We need to realize how short and fragile life really is and how quickly it can change. One minute you have a spouse and a child and the next you don’t. One day you’re enjoying a walk on the beach and the next you have an accident that takes your legs. One day you’re enjoying your beautiful home and the next day it is totally destroyed in a fire. So many things can and do happen every day. Chances are there is someone close to you that has experienced such a tragedy.

There are two ways to look at the frailty of life: One way is feel frightened over the inevitable and to worry about what might happen. The other is to use this uncertainty and fear as a constant reminder of all we have to be grateful for. We need to constantly remind ourselves how fortunate we are to have what we have: a home, a spouse, children, health, a job all else you possess and may take for granted.

Gratitude List

Gratitude is one of the most powerful attractors of what we want. Take a sheet of paper and write down all the things you are grateful for in every area of your life. Include such things as your job or career, your health, your family, your friends, your personal possessions, and everything else you can think of. There is always something to be grateful for in every area of your life. Post this list where you can see it every day. This will keep it in your mind help you to get in the habit of gratitude.

Take a few minutes every day to think about and express gratitude for those things that you have. Make this a part of your life right now and begin to experience more joy. Give it a try. Chances are you have more to be grateful for than you realize.

Live life, don’t just go through it. Experience gratitude.

Gina

Gratitude Quotes

A person of power embraces challenges in complete gratitude. No matter the situation life may bring, discontent is never justified, rather all is experienced as an opportunity and a privilege to adventure and grow. James Ray “

The more youpraise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. Oprah Winfrey

Technorati Tags: Gratitude, Personal Development, Self-help

Live in the MomentThe Law of Gratitude