Perspective

I have a long list of things I should be doing, but I am choosing to write this blog because that is what I want to do right now.  And darn it, that's what matters.

I just drove back from Madison to Tuscaloosa in Tropical Storm Lee.  It was terrifying.  I swear my life flashed before my eyes a couple times when I was driving 45 on the interstate blinded by the rain or when I was having to slam on my breaks to avoid accidents or obliviously law-breaking drivers without their lights on.

I haven't been this scared for my life since I was crammed in that closet with fifteen or so people on April 27.

And being scared for your life really puts things in perspective.  As a 22 year old (in four days), I don't often dwell on my own mortality.  I'm young, just starting graduate school, too busy with fall semester and football season to die.  Right?

Even after losing my grandma to cancer almost nine months ago, and even though I miss her every single day, death still isn't real to me.

But the truth is people my age die every day.  Freak accidents, diseases, natural disasters.  Our life can be taken from us without a moment's notice.

Just over a week ago, I went with friends to the Tuscaloosa Remembers memorial service honoring the lives taken by the tornado on April 27.  Dr. Witt, Coach Grant, and Coach Saban all spoke about the impact that day has had on our University and the entire community.

Something that Coach Saban said, in particular, stuck with me.  "Every day, we should appreciate the opportunity that we have to accomplish and affect something."  He told all the students at the service that we should be grateful to be alive and that we should be living our lives to the fullest, something that the six UA students killed by the tornado can no longer do.

We all really are so blessed, aren't we?  To have this opportunity to live.

I want to make the most of it.  I want to do things that make me happy.  I want to help others.  I don't want to do things because they are expected of me but because they are right.  I don't want to be complacent.  I want to explore and take chances every day.  I want to live for those who can't.

I watched an old movie called "Holiday" with my mom, grandpa, and uncles yesterday.  The movie, which was made in 1938, stars Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn.  Grant's character has been working since he was ten years old and now wants to make just enough money so that he can take a long holiday... while he's still young enough to enjoy it.  Not a bad idea.  (Though perhaps a bit impractical during the Great Depression.)

I definitely don't want to put off happiness now so that I can have it later.  Today could be my last chance.  Or yours.

Think about it.