Live like we're dying

'What is the human being's funniest characteristic?'

We are in such a hurry to grow up, and then we long for our lost childhood.
We make ourselves ill earning money, and then spend all our money on getting well again.
We think so much about the future that we neglect the present, and thus experience neither the present nor the future.
We live as if we were never going to die, and die as if we had never lived.'

By Paulo Coehlo

As soon as I've come across this quote, it falls right into my favorite list instantly.  That exactly reflects us as human beings.  So well said and it's never more true than it is.

Almost every day, our lives are so busy like a bee and we're rushing and it's which makes us ignore to enjoy what we have. We worry too much and the stresses we got make us feel unhappy.  The more I read those lines, the more they make sense to me.  In addition, its underlying meanings are in align with Buddha's teaching as well.

How many of us got time to enjoy the natural beauty surrounding us?  Those wild colorful flowers, spectular canyon view, beautiful blue sky on fine days, pleasnt bird chirping, etc.


The swing set up in our patio is perfect to kill a part of my available time, probably with a cup of tea and a book.  But the truth is that I just happen to sit briefly on it during last night after all these months passed by.

And I used to bring stresses or unhappiness at work to home.  Then I learnt that what's the point?  Left those unhealthy situations at work behind you once one has gotten out of it.  And don't let it spoil the time with your family. I know, I know. It's easier to say than get it done practically.  For sure, there gonna be some pebble effects of it but don't make it a big impact on your personal life.  What I've learnt about another upside of doing so?  Not being confused and stressed will get me resolved it better the next day.

To me, what this quote is teaching is that:
1) about the appreciation of what we currently have and feel it everyday
2) experience and enjoy what is right before you, worry less and reduce stress and live the life to the fullest

I'm sure that everyone could turn it into their own interpretations and those simply are just mine.  Bottom line to me is that live like we're dying or live like there's no tomorrow.  In other words, if one is dying, he or she will try to appreciate and enjoy every single thing he is getting. Don't you think?

Everything all makes sense.  But the most difficult thing is to practise them.  It's always easier to have it said than to have it done or practised.  How many things in our lives which make absolutely sense?  But a lot of times, what do we do?  Our perception and application might not necessarily fall into the same bucket.  How many of us know our bad habits but can't live without them?  :P

I think that taking the first step is always most difficult.  After taking a first initiative, following subsequently doesn't seem to be that difficult.  We just need to embrace the first step.  Those lines really hit me.  BOOM and my revelation followed.  I'm on.  Are you with me as well?

Life is short: live, love and laugh!

I've never thought that I'm a very patient or a very good-tempered person in general.  People usually think that I'm a gentle girl until they've realized that how I could go rages and could be so fiery in responses to certain intolerable situations and circumstances.  

Recently, I've noticing myself that I could so easily caught into my temper.  Certainly there are a lot going on in my head.  I have to just start working on two urgent and important projects at work and one has a super tight deadline.  Having to work on new projects around the holiday season ain't fun by the way.  There are a thousand of other things running through my brain: all the matters of the girls, house chores, holiday shopping, and so on and on.  I guess only a working mom with the kids could hear me well.  

Alright, back to talking about my rages and temper.  Just today, I was ended up yelling out loud to my girls for quite a couple of times.  I was so mad that I could not properly control myself even though I was aware that I'm doing it in the public.  When I did yell at them, there might have been very few or almost no public in the surrounding.  

Regardless, I weren't able to control myself to just talk to them firmly instead of yelling.  My blood was boiling and my words were transformed into the high pitched yelling.  How many times I've taught them that yelling is not good and why I was yelling in contrary?  When I think about it now, I feel so guilty for being inconsistent for what I've said and what I've behaved.  

Well, they both are so active, playful and mischievous.  So what?  It proves that they are normal and healthy.  No matter how they made me upset or mad or rubbing off my tolerance, I should not end up in such an uncontrolled situation.  He has been showing me read cards by his frowning face whenever I yelled.  But I kept neglecting his face.  I just simply could not calm down.  That's all.

When I recall it and analyze it now, I could not believe that I did that.  Even though I didn't play Angry Birds much, I guess that I'm really in need of Anger Management :P  

Yelling is a killer of the peace mode.  It's the same meaning but the outcome of a subject could well be totally different when you yell vs. when you talk or explain firmly.  Who doesn't like to hear sweet?  At the same time, there's no good for me either.  It boils my blood, make me frown and hide my smiles and laughs for some extensive moments.  Perhaps I have grown some wrinkles on my forehead after all those yellings today :P

The worst is that I'm putting our "Happy Family" on the line every time I do it.  Once or twice could be well forgiven but doing it over and over again may well break the line or rub off all tolerances.  The "Happy Family" is the only most precious thing I got and I could not afford to lose it.

Well, I got to appreciate what I have today and do not get regreted it tomorrow for not treating it well.  Once some of the precious moments are gone they are gone.  We could never get it back.  Kids grow fast and it'll be times for them to leave from us in no time before I'm even realizing it myself.  When I miss them and I want those moments back, I'll be the one with full of regret for not creating most sweet memories out of it.    Take it easy and live the best and the sweetest out of it.  Treasure the loved ones and live a guilt-free, regret-free life!  Life is short.  Live, love and laugh.