What If Today was Your Last Day? | Weight Loss | Fitness

Just heard from a friend that someone we knew died in his sleep last night.

I knew Gary from high school, and while I had seen him a few times over the years, I wasn’t real close friends with him. But Bill, who told me about it, has been very good friends with him for over 20 years, hanging out with him a few times per month every month for those 20 years. I can’t begin to imagine how he feels now. He said he’s stunned.

Gary was 45, just a year older than me. Active, he was a hiker, biker, kayaker, and apparently healthy guy.

Then this morning his wife couldn’t wake him up and her life was turned upside down. Sometimes shit just doesn’t make sense.

Too often we take tomorrow for granted.

Problem is, we aren’t promised tomorrow. You never know when you’re going to get pulled from the game, so you better make the most of your opportunity to play while you can.

Life really is pretty fleeting. Hell, suddenly I’m 44. Last thing I knew, I was 24. Time is precious, and we all waste too much of our short time here on stuff that just isn’t that important.

Don’t think so? Just watch the evening news and you can catch up on all the latest negativity and us vs. them stupidity that we engage in every freakin’ day.

If you knew you were going to check out tomorrow, would you really waste today arguing about taxes, healthcare reform, bailouts, religion, steroids, politics, American Idol, the Kardashians, Jon & Kate, or the Biggest Loser?

If today was your last day…

would you rather spend it bashing the current or former president, or doing something unexpected and special for you son or daughter?
Would you rather spend it complaining about republicans or democrats, or watching your mother smile when you bring her flowers?
Would you rather spend it bitching about crap you have no control over, or doing something to help out a friend? Better yet, how about helping a stranger?

Think about the last argument you had with someone. Was whatever you were arguing over really that important in the grand scheme of things? Or was it just more important that you win? Is that win worth the price if it turns out the be the last conversation you had with the other person?

Was whatever you yelled at your child about this morning really that significant an offense? Would you feel the same way if you knew you’d be taken from that child’s life tomorrow?

We spend too much time bitching about crap we can’t control. Spend the short time that is your life enjoying what you have, loving your friends and family, and working for solutions. Don’t waste time bitching about problems. We already know the problems without having to listen to people bitch about them.

Be better than that.

Make tomorrow better than today.

Rest in peace Gary.

~Dave

About the Author

Dave Soucy is a coach, trainer, motivator, husband, dad, and former fat guy. His goal is to teach as many people as possible how to achieve a life of health, fitness, and wellness through simply eating right and exercising. Click here to learn more about Dave.

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Pam Starr

Yup, I do remember...didn't know him well but he certainly seemed like a nice guy. So sad! Thanks for drawing something positive out of otherwise tragic news.
Dave Soucy

Pam, not sure if you remember him, but the Gary in the post is Gary Goebel.
Pam Starr

Thanks Dave...the older I get, the more I try to apply this ;).
Kelly

While I completely get where you're coming from with this, I also think there are a lot of problems as a result of NOT thinking about the future. We absolutely have to think beyond today. It's nice to live life like every day is your last, but the reality is there also might be a tomorrow. Hence the need for things like retirement savings, taking care of our bodies (because if I ate like I wasn't going to wake up tomorrow, watch out) and even addressing the big things like climate change. And yes, health care reform, bailouts, job loss, etc.

Don't get hung up on the little things, absolutely. Pay attention to the important stuff and do things that matter. I agree that just bitching about problems doesn't do anyone a lick of good. But we do need to ACT on them, not think, "Hey, what do I care. I might be dead tomorrow."
Dave Soucy

Thanks for the comment Kelly. I agree that we have to think about the important things that will impact tomorrow. That's my point, that people waste so much time arguing over pointless stuff instead of acting on the important stuff. Sure, healthcare reform is important, but the reality is too many people will just sit around and argue about it and not do anything to take care of their own health.

Arguing about healthcare reform with a neighbor or coworker with a different opinion or getting all worked up watching O'Reilly or Olberman blather on about it advances nothing except more of the us vs. them mentality that pervades our society. It's the mentality that controls our gov't. Healthcare reform was the centerpiece of Clinton's first year in office, and nothing changed because everyone spent time arguing over it and not actually doing anything. That was 17 years ago and the arguments have just gone on and on.

I didn't say or imply you should live every day like it's our last. I'm saying that we should realize that life is short, and try to focus on the positive things we can do, and avoid the pointless negativity that we too often engage in, especially around stuff that we can't control or that doesn't really matter.

If you thought my point was "Hey, what do I care. I might be dead tomorrow.", then I guess you might have missed my point.
Valerie Stainton Millios

wonderfully written Souce -- so true
Dave Soucy

Thanks Valerie.