Quit living like you are dying!!! You’re not, you are just going to kill yourself.

I have heard the phrase “live like you are dying” so many times and too many kids are taking the quote literally…

Today a young professional that I know was admitted to the ICU after crashing his car, hitting 6 trees/post and finally coming to rest after the car also flipped multiple times.  Being young, wild and free is a way of life for most kids, but what are they putting at risk by trying to “keep up” with those around them??

So young, so ambitious, so much potential, so much drive, and so many possibilities were almost taken away in an instant…

I for one know that this kid has all the potential in the world.  I have seen him take giant steps forwards only to sprint backwards…  Let this be my open letter to him.

LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY…I know there are things in your life you are trying to figure out. I know life has a way of flipping you upside down and taking you for a ride but at some point you need to take control.  You cannot play the victim forever because eventually you wont be the victim, you will be the casualty (like you almost were last night).  I know sometimes life doesn’t seem fair, it seems like you got dealt a bad hand or others around you have it easier but let me assure you EVERYONE has problems, EVERYONE has issues, EVERYONE has things they wish they could change it just all boils down to how you handle it.

You need to see how one decision can change your life.  I am not just talking about last night, This could have been worse, way worse… You were almost a statistic.  You could have been dead.  You could have killed someone. You could have killed your friend.  You could be in jail.  You could be paralyzed.  You could have changed your life forever.  Even worse you could have changed someone else’s life forever had you killed someone.

Who are you really surrounding yourself with?  People who are as confused as you are?  People who are enablers?  People who are covering up the same hurt you are??  The same confusion you are??  I see all this as a little cry for help and just know that whatever it is your friends, family and even co-workers are there for you.  No one gets anywhere in life by themselves and it takes a strong person to lean on others and know they are not strong enough to do it alone.

Well let me say this (and this goes to everyone out there) life is confusing, you don’t know where you are headed?  Well guess what most people don’t and THAT IS OK!  Make choices for YOU!  Don’t live for anyone else because I think you will realize that you are dying inside by doing that.  It is time you take control of your life… What is important? A career? The partying? The drinking? A relationship? God? Family?   There is a line from one of my favorite movies that says “LOOK, YOU’RE NOT SOME RUBE FROM COOS BAY ANYMORE. NOBODY’S GONNA WIPE YOUR BEHIND OR WARM YOUR MILK.  WE’RE PAST ALL THAT NOW.  IF YOU WANT TO RUN, YOU RUN.   IF YOU DON’T, THEN YOU WALK AWAY FROM IT.   NOBODY CAN COACH DESIRE, PRE.”

It is up to you if you want to run this race called life…  This is a time that can define you.  You may only have one more shot so what is it going to be?