Time's Up

You know, sometimes I wonder why I'm here. Why I was born? Why did I come to be? And other than just being, what else am I here for? I eat. I sleep. I work. I play. I blog. I pray. I laugh. I cry. I love. I grow up. I grow old... and then what?

What makes a life count?

It's not my bank account, that's for sure. (Thank goodness it's not.) The number of boyfriends I've had or not had? Pfft. I don't think so. The number of friends I've got? Hmmm, now that's a thought... but nah, not so much either.


Maybe it's just in the simple things like saying ciak to my elders before I eat. And looking people in the eye when I talk to them. Or lending others my stapler at work. And never adding fake miles to my travel claims. Maybe it's smiling in response to smiles offered to me that counts. Or saying my pleases and thank yous, for that matter.

Can it really be that simple? Perhaps not.
I should start thinking things of substance.

Maybe it's how many times I've prayed for another. Or perhaps the number of lives I've helped make better. And the days I've in some way made brighter. Or the people I've somehow made happier. The burdens I've tried to make lighter. The friendships I've pursued and made deeper. By the simple fact that I've even bothered to myself in another. I don't know. Maybe.

So what else am I here for?
Not much, I can tell you that.

But I want so much more than "not much".

The clock's ticking and I'm not getting any younger. Time's slipping by too quickly and I'm losing my grip on Life and its reason of my existence. What if it all ends before I actually do anything worth mentioning to the grandkids? What if time comes to a standstill before I manage to make a difference? What if I die without having made an impact in another's life?

What can I do to really make my life count?

I can't tell you what because I'm not too certain of that myself. But this I can tell you... You've made a difference if your name finds its way into a friend's diary every once in awhile. You've made a difference if someone other than yourself has kept a picture of you. You've made a difference when your birthday matters and is remembered. You've made a difference when your name gets onto a Christmas shopping list. You've made a difference if you get free hugs when you cry and big, wet, sloppy kisses when you're down. You've made a difference if your Friendster/Facebook page gets checked more often than you check it yourself. You've made a difference when you get silly testimonials just cos you were remembered. You've made a difference if you've been tagged at least once in your life.

And you've made a difference
when what you write gets read.

Thanks for reading.

You help me know that I'm making
a difference, albeit one day at a time.

And that my life has already begun to count.