Take Time to Enjoy Life
A couple of years ago, I decided to spend the New Year with my older sister. My sister and I had been estranged for a few years, so I thought I would start the New Year out by trying to mend fences with my sister. I traveled to her home and threw a fabulous New Year's party with family and friends. My sister and I cooked, laughed, shared stories from our childhood, and just enjoyed each other's company. I was so glad I had decided to go visit her because my sister and I had more fun than we've had in years.
Two weeks later, I received a call that my sister was found unresponsive and ultimately she passed away that same day. I was totally devastated. There were so many things we hadn't done and hadn't said to each other. From this heartbreaking situation, it taught me some valuable lessons.
The most valuable lesson I learned was that you should always take the time to enjoy life. My sister was always working and caring for her family. She rarely took time to really enjoy life. Her life was working and taking care of her family. I vowed that from that day forward, I would never take life for granted. I would always take the time to smell the flowers, pet the dog and give my children and grandchildren lots of love and laughter. We spend so much time worrying about the future and worrying about money, just worrying about things that won't matter if your life ended today.
This New Year take the time to evaluate your life and find out if you have been taking time to enjoy your life. It doesn't matter if you are broke, your house is in foreclosure, you lost your job, you are going through a divorce, or whatever unfortunate circumstances you are facing, you still have to take time to have fun and explore all the wonderful things that life has to offer.
New Years is my favorite holiday because it is about saying goodbye to the year that has passed, and looking forward to what awaits you in the year ahead. It is a time for you to make necessary changes in your life to allow you to enjoy your life much more often. This New Years make a list of things you always wanted to do, but never took the time to do. Make a promise to yourself that you will try to accomplish at least one thing on that list.
We never know what lies ahead for us, but every year you are able to see the ball drop in Times Square, realize that you are blessed because so many people did not make it to see the new year come in. Appreciate the blessings you have been given by taking the time to squeeze every drop of enjoyment into every aspect of your life.
My sister is no longer here, but I am taking each day of my life to honor her memory by doing the things that bring peace and serenity to my life. Sometimes you will have to sever toxic relationships in order for you to find that peace. There may be people in your life that are hindering your happiness, but you owe it to yourself in this year ahead to love yourself and start loving life. We never know when our time is up, but while we are here explore all of the many experiences that life has to offer.