[Rest peacefully Kevin. You really knew how to do the things.]

We should do this more often! When have you said that, and really meant it?

After a night out with friends? Laughing loudly over a good meal? Dancing? Taking a long walk in the park? Karaoke? An impromptu road trip? A family game night? Skipping?

What is it that you say you should really do more often?

Do it. Do it more often, because you are going to die. I’m not trying to be morose, just factual. You will die. And it may be sooner than you think.

I’ve always lived with this thought, the thought that I will die, not in the back of my mind, but somewhere in the middle. Easily accessible. Since I was a kid. For years it was the cause of extended periods of anxiety and occasional full-blown panic attacks.

As more and more people that I knew and loved died, the knowledge that this would happen to every single person I knew and loved became a source of deep sadness, overwhelming grief and sorrow, and occasional full-blown panic attacks.

But as I’ve aged, grown, practiced, meditated, and beaten breast cancer, this knowledge has become a source of true inspiration, and occasional spells of pure, overwhelming, full-blown joy.

The beauty of this life lies buried in its brevity. Awareness of the absolute impermanence of all things can inspire us to make the most of every moment we are afforded, gifted, blessed with, lucky enough to have.

We don’t have much time. We should really do the things.

And we should do them more often.