I read the headline quote somewhere and it has stayed with me.  Others come to mind:

“This is your life. Not a dress rehearsal” — Jim Donavan

“Carpe Diem” (Seize the day) — Horace the poet

“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live” — Norman Cousins

You have been born into life. You did not choose to come.  You did not choose your parents.  You did not choose where you grew up.  At some point you became an adult, of some form and fashion, and had the capacity to choose your life.  What kind of life have you chosen thus far?  Many detours?

What are the ramifications of your choices thus far?  Current obligations and responsibilities relative to spouse(s), kids, parents, home, career, friends, community, hobbies and interests?

How aware, conscious, have you been in making your choices?  Did they come from fear or freedom?  How satisfied are you with your choices?  Are your needs being met? Are your dreams being fulfilled?  

Are you in control of your life, without being a controller – alive with interests, creating new dreams?  Are you doing this with a life partner who supports and enables you to reach them? What is your next step?

Or, have you given up?  Are you resigned to just living out the life you have settled for? Do cynicism and hopelessness characterize your everyday existence?  

Astute reader, you will notice that much of this article is devoted to questions.  Only you know the answers. I am a believer in the Socratic method of using questions to help people find answers.  Therefore I am an asker of questions and a facilitator of a process towards personal enlightenment, aliveness, and direction.

Each person ultimately has to answer the question – “did I live til I died?”  Did I enjoy the ride, survive the pain, and become a better person because of the journey chosen?  Did I live life to the fullest?  

Or, did I get stuck along the way: got to feeling sorry for myself, let the negative energy of fear, depression, guilt or anger own me, blame others for my limited life, etc…?  

Perhaps it is a good time to see if you have some dreams in the back of your head.  How could they become a reality?  Try not to let any dreams “expire” or “die” along life’s trek. A suggestion would be to get together with another person, share a cup and meal, and see what might come out of each other’s mouth as to whether you have any more dreams left inside of you.

Someone once told me that the only question St. Peter is going to ask you when you arrive at the pearly gates upon death is, “Did you have a good time now?” And a “good time” would include? Something to think about!

Dr. Stathas is a Counseling Psychologist, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, in the Lake Oconee area.  He is the Founder of the Stathas Life Development Center. He can be reached at (706) 473-1780. Email: Stathas@plantationcable.net. Web site: drstathas.googlepages.com. His blog: drstathas.com