Guts

“Have the courage to live. Anyone can die.”
-Robert ‘Tree’ Cody, a Native American educator and musician.

I’ve lived a while. Long enough to really know some things.
I love to eat.
I feel stupid when I watch reality TV.
I’m happiest when I’m creating.
I care too much what people think of me.

There are other things I have a pretty good idea about.
I think politics is a game that costs us all money and halts progress.
I want to buy a house in the city someday.
Love is the answer.

There are still other things I don’t think I’ll ever figure out.
Why do we care who Britney Spears is dating or how she’s parenting her kids?
Pleated pants? Really?

In the words of Alanis Morrisette, “you live, you learn.” I don’t know how much wisdom she had when she sang that song, but the truth applies. I guess I still have some living to do if I’m ever to understand some of the things my life has to teach me. I realize the longer I live, the longer my list of mistakes, regrets and failures becomes. I don’t like that.

Adding to the win column takes guts, but I really want to. Therefore, I need to buck up.

I can do this by...
doing more, waiting less,
dreaming more, complaining less,
risking more, hoarding less,
loving more. fearing less.

I will die one day. And dying probably won’t take a lot of effort. Living, on the other hand, should be harder. A life well-lived is much harder and takes real courage. Alanis added, “I recommend biting off more that you can chew to anyone.”

I’m gonna say that’s good advice.