There it is. Now it's gone. A chance to do something, say something, make a difference, or make no difference at all except for having the chance and taking it.

I call them the "Shoulda Dones."

I shoulda done this or I shoulda done that. I often talk about living life fully. Making every moment count. I tell you not to live this day as if it were your last, but to live it like it was the first day, makes you jump out of bed excited.

I love the "stop and smell the roses" people.

I love to read about people who saw a need and decided to fill it.

I rejoice in the stories I read about people who stopped running the rat race and did what they loved to do.

I remind you to always kiss them goodnight, tell them "I love you!", say "thanks" and mean it and smile, really smile a lot.

So, what happened to me that brought all of this on?

Scott Hagler.

His mother wrote a review of my book "I Wish You Enough." She mentioned that her son had died in January and how much the book helped her.

He was a young man leaving behind a wife and three children.

I wrote to her and she sent me a link to his blog.

I got to read in his words about the last two years of his life and the comments from friends and family.

There it is. Now it's gone. Today will bring you many chances to...

Say "I love you" or "Thank you!" Stop what you are doing and something silly. Buy flowers and give them away to strangers. Pay for a stranger's breakfast. Run ahead to hold the door. Let a driver cut in front of you. Call a friend you haven't spoken with in a long time. Check on your neighbor. Paint, write, or sing out loud. Dance to the music in the mall. Or pull out a lawn chair and sit in the sun when the temperature is so low the tip of your nose freezes.

I had talked about doing it for days and yesterday I did. It didn't make the news but it made me feel better about myself because I seized the moment.

It's not just another day, it's another chance! "There it is...Now it's gone!"

"I wish you enough."

© Bob Perks
Used with permission.

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