Blog 3269 – 10.14.2024

The Life Not Lived

The path not taken is the great regret of many my age and even younger. Sadly not having the courage to put oneself out there is the plot to many a tragic tale. There is a certain amount of risk in any undertaking and I am not saying that we should not be mindful of the safety of ourself and others, but what I am saying is that we should not settle for virtual experiences. We should endeavor to experience as much of life as possible first hand.

Social medium is not an adequate substitute for real relationships and eye to eye and hand to hand interactions with people and things. Reading as wonderful as it is or watching a well-made movie are at best one-step removed from the deeper and more satisfying experience of a life fully lived.

My advice to children, young adults, oldsters and everyone in-between is to get out there and participate, be a part of it all and not just a spectator. Find something that they say cannot be done and figure out a way to prove them wrong. See a wrong and make it right. Instead of always going with the flow, make a few waves. Let your life count for something, make a difference. Be the hero of your own story.

In the words that Jesus supposedly said to his disciples before risking it all, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…” There is work to be done, adventures to be undertaken, more things to be seen and done than can ever be done in this circle of life. Let our regret if we must own one be that we did not accomplish everything not that we failed to accomplish much of anything or to make much of a difference.

I suppose the epitaph that I would most like to be said of my dash through space and time is this, “Ole Dave made a difference, he gave it a good shot. He was not afraid to take a chance.”

Life, my friends, is meant to be lived. Take a chance. Give it a shot.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White