Only today matters

What will your life be like in three years?

It’s folly to think that far ahead.

Should you plan for the future?

Of course, but don’t get too attached to it. Be aware of the future things that excite you. When you catch yourself saying “I can’t wait for x,” don’t ignore the present moment. In the end – that is all that matters.

Case in point: My brother talked a lot about retiring when he hit his fifties. He had it all planned out. He knew what he was going to do, where he was going to live, and how he would spend his days.

On St. Patrick’s day, 2022, I’m playing a gig, and he comes out to see my band. Between sets, he breaks the news – he was diagnosed with myelofibrosis. If you aren’t familiar,  it’s a rare bone marrow disease. About 1 in 500,000 people will get it worldwide. Of those people, one-third will get leukemia on top of it. Yep, he got that, too. He was gone by July at the age of 61. He never retired.

So, in three years, I’d like to be alive and healthy enough to wipe my own butt. Anything beyond that is gravy. But will I be? Who knows. I just heard about a terrible accident on I-96. A semi truck driver didn’t see a backup and slammed into a bunch of cars. Several caught fire. Four are dead, 17 hospitalized. I’m sure these people had plans, hopes, and dreams. So it doesn’t even have to be a lingering illness. Something can change your life in the blink of an eye.

Only today matters. Make good choices. Be kind. The future will take care of itself.

My brother, Jim at the age of 11 standing in front of my uncle Mike's Cessna Skymaster.

This is a picture of my brother at age 11 in front of our Uncle Mike’s Cessna Skymaster. It would be our first plane ride ever. He was enamored with flying and would earn his private pilot license many years later.


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7 responses to “Only today matters”

  1. Robin Ward Avatar

    I agree with you. I too wish to be healthy enough to wipe my own butt!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Life is a dark ride Avatar

      LOL! No matter how long I live, I hope it never comes to that. It’s a rather undignified way to end it all.

      Like

  2. Darryl B Avatar

    😢 I don’t even know where to start. I guess first, my condolences on the loss of your brother…gone much too soon.

    I guess second, the vagaries of life and these incredibly complex but ultimately perishable bodies we inhabit… we’re told threescore and ten but with a big caveat of +/- 20 on average… I guess it’s up to us to live each day to the fullest. Retire as soon as we can. Don’t look back. Ignore the naysayers.

    And harkening to the words of one of the coolest guys I ever knew…

    “Spinning around in circles
    Living it day to day
    And still 24 hours may be 60 good years
    It’s really not that long a stay”

    ~ Jimmy Buffet, Cowboy in the Jungle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Life is a dark ride Avatar

      Thanks, Darryl. I appreciate your words very much. I’ve had to deal with the death of my parents. That’s a different story. You are supposed to outlive your folks. It’s the natural order of things. Losing a sibling is a lot more unsettling. It’s just me and my sister now. We hang out more, so that’s a good thing.

      And I love the Jimmy Buffet line. It made me smile. I have always joked that I want “It’s Been a Lovely Cruise” played at my funeral. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Darryl B Avatar

        Aww! Love that!! ❤️😎

        Liked by 1 person

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