A Fresh Start

We all need one from time to time. Because time passes and life changes us, but we don't always change with the passing of life.

Sometimes seasons come and go and months become years and we wonder what happened. The answer is simple. Life. And sometimes death.

It's been a long year, and ten months have passed since I last wrote for this blog. During that time I lost a good friend, a few high school classmates, and my mom. But I've gained some insights and hope they will help you as you read them here.

One truth I stumbled across is this: enjoy the time you have because you don't know how much that may be. Notice I said "how much", not "how little."

Too often we focus on the negative. What we don't have. What we've lost. What we will never gain. We remember our desires that have become smoldering passions. We think of the dreams of our youth that are now tattered, faded memories. We recall our gifts and wonder if we've squandered them.

Why do we frame the negatives of our lives when we should develop positive images of life? Because we're human.

And that's why every now and then we need a fresh start.

Rather than focusing on what we haven't done, let's imagine what we can do. Instead of concentrating on how little time may be left, let's think as if today were the beginning of something grand and wonderful. What could you accomplish if you had 30 years left? Or 20? Or 10? Or even 5?

I don't know how to type. But I can produce about 1200 words of usable material in two hours. Then with a bit more time I can proof and polish that work until it's salable. That means if I write 40 hours per week, I can write a book of 60,000 words in about one month.

I've always thought I didn't have enough time. As it turns out, I have plenty. And I intend to use it wisely and enjoy it immensely.