Take Time To Live!

A forward message .....hope you all like it!

Let's all remember to take the time to LIVE!!!!

A man opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

"This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package."

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.
"She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:

"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day.. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now. I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... that I wanted to write
"One of these days".
I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brother and sisters,son and daughters, not times enough at least, how much
I love them.
Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives..
And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day..
Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

Nice one Sudha, really give us good lesson to learn . Live for Today!

Saving for the rainy day when carried to the extreme makes the present life a living hell. Your forward message has brought out the point powerfully.
About hoarding nice things, Kahlil Gibran says like this.
A dog when travelling to Mecca along with a host of rich pilgrims along the Arabian desert, got many juicy bones from its Masters. Not wanting to eat all those items it dug up a hole in the desert and buried the bones saving it for the return journey. But what use is bones buried beneath a trackless desert sand? I read a write up on NRI life in the US. And the article said that a typical garage of NRI would contain hundreds of gadgets which might not have been opened at all.
Back home, there is an even more poignant example. Was talking with a Commissioner of Income Tax who had come back after raiding the clinics and homes of famous Doctors in Madurai.
What he said about one famous neurologist made my heart very sad. This man led a simple life and use to commute to his clinic by a dilapidated scooter. And in his clinic they found cash to the tune of Rs. 2 crores. Most of them were in covers which had not been opend at all, some of them for three, four years.
Like the Income Tax Depart which raids the rich people, the Lord of Death will come to raid our lives one day. At that time we cannot hide anything from him. The tax sleuths take away the things from us whereas the Lord of death takes us away from our things.
So while there is time left, let's dance. Let that cleaning job wait while you spoil your child with a treat. Savour that cup of ice cream and let go the rules of dieting for a day. let's take it easy on our income and sales targets and plan a great holiday with our family.
The one thing that we should always remember is that no thing is important in life. Whereas life is important, more important than all things put to gether.
Go out and dance.
regards,
Varalotti

Wonderful words. Isn't it amazing how our human minds forget that life is but short. I guess it is the Maya that God has blessed us with, or else, we may not be able to survive the knowledge with equanimity.
Both my husband and myself try to remember this and lead our day to day life thinking of this Truth in as much as possible. I try to use my precious crockery and cutlery etc etc etc without waiting for That special day. My friends are very happy that they drink the same old orange juice in lovely crystal glasses and shower me with praise and appreciation at my hospitality. It thrills me and thrills them too. How nice. All because of some little colourful glass!! Same goes for clothes and dressing up. They say I infect them to dress UP and add that little pizzazz to the routine outing!
Mind you, we are not showing off or spendthrift.
About three years ago, we realised how momentary life is. Now we live life with more gusto.
This was a good one and went straight to my heart.

Love, Kamla

Hello Friends,
It feels good that all of you shared some more personal thoughts after reading this fwd....thanks...
Sridhar that was a nice quote from Gibran! And what a pity about this doctor...really i wonder sometimes when people work so hard and get all the riches but hardly enjoy, saving it all up for some special occassion....which never finally comes!
Kamala, some of us friends here do that,we are using up all the jewellery or crockery which we have collected so dutifully all these years for our own simple lunches...like you said, not showing off....we have started appreciating and admiring and feeling good....and we have so many outsiders who envy our enjoyment! But of late, 2 of our friends group has left for India, and in fact i am feeling low , due to that also....the sudden parting of good friends!
Anyway, this quote has again stopped us to take a look and enjoy this day, this moment!
Thanks to all of you for just being there !

Dear Sudha and Kamla,

I loved this post by Sudha, it made me analyse how I hoard things and wait for the special occasion. Also liked the responses the post has evoked, like Varalotti's remark, 'Go out and dance'. And Kamla's way of drinking juice in crystal.

And so inspired by you ladies, I pulled out my Waterford flutes and drank 'mor', after toasting to your health. Salut, ladies- indeed go out and dance.

regards
Vidya

Actually yesterday I found that one of my favorite salwar tops was missing……..Favorite ‘cause my hubby bought a similar piece for me and my sis in law………I just got so irritated that today wore a brand new salwar (one of my other favorite dress) thinking that at least let me enjoy everything before losing it……… that was perfect timing right!!!……..

I am sure Sridhar did'nt literally mean that one should dance. But I did just that . I just waited for V to go out for his walk, drew all the curtains lest Bhugan get a shock & danced all around the house !!!!
Now I will ---peacefully.
Love & regards,
Chithra.

My my ladies, take care.....take it easy.....
Vidhya, Thanks for toasting and drinking MOR on our behalf!Thats so sweet of you!
Chitra, dancing all over the house....wow, now we have to do this together when i am there ! Dont you think so!
Great feeling that we are all connected from different parts of the world and dancing away ! thats the IL spirit...keep it glowing!

Originally Posted by sudhavnarasimhan

A forward message .....hope you all like it!

Let's all remember to take the time to LIVE!!!!

A man opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

"This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package."

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.
"She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:

"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day.. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now. I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... that I wanted to write
"One of these days".
I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brother and sisters,son and daughters, not times enough at least, how much
I love them.
Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives..
And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day..
Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

hi
thats a heart touching thought provoking message.
s v all shall take each day worth living as if it is the only day for us.
every moment is precious and will never come back live it lively lovingly.
it is these moments that make life meaningful n wonderful.
time lost life lost.