Don't Squander Your Life

Today I'll be at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center. I'll perform my volunteer service in a variety of ways: helping people who are lost in the building, helping the staff any way I can, helping the families of the patients and being with the patients. Most of the patients I visit with are very ill, terminally ill or actively dying. When someone speaks with me and we move beyond the initial "how are you doing?" portion; there is usually a common theme. It's phrased several ways such as, "I didn't see this coming. I had no clue. A month ago everything was fine and now I'm here. They gave me a death sentence this morning. I thought we would retire and then travel...we retired and now we only travel to the hospital. This isn't how I planned things. If you have something you want to do in your life...DO IT NOW! Don't wait!"
This isn't meant to be morbid. It's a wake up call. Look around you. People are suffering, ill and dying. If you are in good health at the moment, seize the opportunity to do something that you have never done before. Expand your horizons. Let go of anger, forgive someone, forgive yourself, say hello to a stranger or just smile more.
There is a wonderful poem or "Gatha" called the Evening Gatha. In the Buddhist tradition it is repeated every evening as a reminder. Here it is:

Let me respectfully remind you;
Life and Death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken.
Awaken!
Take Heed!
Do not squander your life.