It’s amazing the things that we take for granted in life.  There’s the obvious ones like having a job (especially if you like it), and owning your own home (if you do).  Even if you don’t have one or both of these things I assume you have a roof over your head and food in your belly. Hopefully you all sit back once and a while and think about that and realize how lucky you are.

Then think about how lucky you really are.  The things above are important and I hope you have them, but they only scratch the surface.  Do all your limbs work?  Can you get out bed without it being a maneuver that should be in a cirque du solei act?    If you can, then think of the little things you take for granted every day – there’s a lot.  If you have problems like these, then still think of all the things you take for granted every day – I do, and there are a lot.

Right now as I write this there is a slideshow on my TV.  Some of the pictures are of a cruise I went on a few years ago.  In those pictures I am whole – everything about me works like it should, and I am having a great time.  Those were good times.  Now after the stroke, I will probably not be the same again.  Not that I won’t be able to do those things again, I think I will, but they will be different.  Stop right now, take a look at yourself and be thankful for what you have today.  Some of them might not be there tomorrow.

I don’t write this looking for sympathy.  My life is pretty good.  Life is going to throw you some curve balls and how you respond to them is up to you.  I’m going to try and hit this one out of the park.  What I am hoping you’ll get from this is that you don’t take anything for granted, especially the small things (I’ve learned that they are the most important things of all) and you live each day to the fullest.  You don’t know what tomorrow will bring so don’t waste today.

I remember reading somewhere that time is our most precious thing.  Each of us only has so much of it but we don’t know how much until it’s gone, and then it’s too late.  So use each second of it wisely – it might be your last.  I almost died, so I have decided that I am an authority on the subject and here is my theory.  The second we are born (or impregnated – your choice) a clock started counting down.  When it hits zero… well I think you know where I am going with this.  In my case I guess my clock isn’t at zero yet, so here I am writing posts and trying to rehab the right side of my body.  It doesn’t mean it’s not going to hit zero 5 minutes from now, it’s just not there yet.

So here’s my advice to you.  Don’t take anything for granted and live every second like might be your last.    Make sure the important people in your life know it and you have your cat or dog spayed or neutered.  I am sure that anything here is not new to you (especially the part about spaying or neutering) but every once and once a while jt doesn’t hurt to be reminded.

I wish each of you a long, heathy and prosperous life.