By Blake Dykes
6 a.m.: Take a shower, blow dry hair, put on makeup, eat breakfast, brush teeth, and get dressed.
7:18: Leave to go to school.
7:35-2:26: School.
3 p.m.: Homework, pitching/hitting drills and or lessons.
6-8: Softball conditioning.
8:30: Eat dinner.
9: Any additional homework and watch TV.
10: Go to bed.
Next day: Repeat.
For the most part, I am fairly content with my life. I am a creature of habit and have to have things certain ways. Lately, though, I’ve just been itching for a change. It just seems like I wake up every day, go through the motions, just to do the exact same thing the next. Granted, there are always occasional things that get switched around, but for the most part I lead a pretty boring life.
In the past I’ve always blamed my boredom on the state, saying things like, “As soon as I’m old enough, I’m leaving Indiana and never looking back. It’s so boring.” Although, later I began to think and came to the conclusion maybe it’s just me, I’m the problem. I mean I go to school with hundreds of other people, and most of them seem to be having a pretty good time. Their lives can’t be that much different than mine.
I decided to ask one of my more cheerful friends that always seems to be in a good mood how she stays so happy all the time, doesn’t she ever get bored or sad? She simply told me this: “Life is just what you make it. It can be full of unforgettable memories that you relive over and over again in your head, or you can just get by, doing what is expected of you, but never enjoying it.” This made me think a little bit. I decided that I was going to start trying to make the most out of everything, any situation that came my way, I was going to look on the positive side and always try and stay upbeat. I suppose for a few days it worked, but faking happiness doesn’t get you too far. I then just decided to accept the fact that my life was boring and there was nothing really I could do about it.
About a week later I found out that my aunt had cancer. Not just in one spot, but cancer throughout her entire body. I was of course shocked, and instantly felt terrible. I assumed that she would be extremely upset and probably lock herself in her bedroom, sulking in fear and sadness for the short time the doctors had estimated that she would live.
However, it turned out to be just the opposite. When Thanksgiving rolled around, all of my relatives came over to my house. My aunt was sitting in a chair, chatting with all of my other family. I had imagined that she would be horribly sad, possibly thinking that this could be her last Thanksgiving, or even her last holiday ever. Shockingly enough, she was smiling, laughing, and just having a great time. I learned that she insisted on going to work and kept up with her daily routine.
This awful disease may have taken over her body, but she wasn’t going to let it take over her life. I thought it was rather odd that such a sick person was so happy. It then struck me that she was happier than I had seen her in a long time, and no doubt much more happy than me.
I was able to draw the conclusion that sometimes we take life for granted, but that it’s not until our life is in jeopardy that we really live out each moment, enjoying the simple things.
Don’t wait until your days are numbered to start living your life.