life worth living

When I finally take that last breath and my life lies scattered in front of me before my creator, there will be many questions that must be answered. Some things I will be ashamed of, some things I will be proud of. The one question that I must answer with a loud “Yes”, is “Was yours a life worth living?”.

What makes a life worth living, you ask? Did you ever help anyone in need? Did you ever give advice from the heart? Did you ever love? Did you ever accept love? Did you ever share someone’s pain? Do you weep when you can’t? Sometimes it’s in the giving and other times it’s in the receiving. Meeting your love for the first time, holding your child after their first breath, watching the milestones of their lives, all these things are a part.

I will never be a star. I will never have large wealth. I will always be anonymous in my daily life. Still, my life has helped others, so it was worth living. It has taken me far too long to figure this out. When I was younger I aspired to great heights and had wonderful plans. I thought these made life have meaning and worth living. As time moved forward, I have become aware how little these things did toward living.

One of the hardest things in my life was touching my newborn son, and then knowing I could not take him home so they could save his life. I still cry when remember when I could finally hold him and take him home. Everyday since then is a gift.

It doesn’t matter how much money, power, ability or fame you have. A life is not worth living unless you have connected with someone personally. Sometimes its by example, sometimes by deed. Always by advice and listening.

I’m not always proud of the things I’ve done, but I am proud that I’ve been there for someone.