Be Active, Laugh Often, Cherish Every Moment

You get a whole new perspective when working with people in a nursing home. You suddenly realize that life is short. Really short. At 20, ninety seems ancient. At 90, twenty seems like yesterday. "I can't believe I'm this old," is a common thing to hear.

There's a lot to be learned from the people I care for everyday. Cherish every moment with family. Live in the present. Feed your body healthy things. Work hard at whatever gift you've been given. Pray. Forgive. Stay active - both physically and mentally. Laugh often. Don't compromise yourself for anyone or anything. Give what you can.

There's more, but last night those were the suggestions given. I ask. Every night, while I'm caring for someone I ask them what lessons they want to pass on, what they've learned about life. It's powerfully validating for them and invaluable to me.

So, today, be active, laugh often and cherish every moment. Life truly is too short.

Laughing Is Exercise

If you haven't read Cake Wrecks today you have to read this post. Right. Now.

(Please note that if you have weak bladder control you may want to take some precautions before reading the post, because you are going to wet yourself. Seriously. Wet. Yourself.)

Funnies From My Mom

My mom sent me an email this morning with some funnies that I just had to share. Hope you laugh! =)


Girl Wisdom


"The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends."

"I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knickers."

"Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!'....Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!"

Live Like You Were Dying

My husband's oldest brother has cancer. The same cancer that his mom had and similar to what his dad had. That's pretty scary. Especially since his older brother is only in his early 40s.

It's really made me think about the moments we get. And more importantly, what we do with those moments. I firmly believe that there is a glorious heaven waiting for all of us and that our time on Earth is just a tiny fraction of our existence. But it's where we are now. So, what are we going to do with it?

I started thinking about family and friends that have passed on and what I remember and hold dear about them. Isn't funny how none of the things that made them who they were had to do with how much "stuff" they had or what kind of car they drove or what kind of house they lived in. It's the way they loved and lived. But still, we don't learn. We want bigger houses, more "stuff", a nicer car, a big fat bank account.

But what will our kids remember about us? What will they tell their children and grandchildren? Hopefully, they'll tell about the way we played with them, the times we laughed together, the traditions we started, the way we treated others with kindness and compassion, and all of those little, good, meaningful things.

So, today, let your workout be playing. Let your medicine be laughter. Let your cool down be ice cream on a warm spring night. And live like you were dying.