Living...in spite of Life

I tweeted this earlier today, "I'm sick of people using life as an excuse not to live."

Life is going to happen: jobs will be trying, children will be selfish and family will want attention. As long as we live, life is going to get in the way of our living. We do the right things: we go to school, eat our vegetables, pay our taxes, teach our children to say "please" and "thank you," and life still throws us curve balls, sliders and change-ups. So what do we do?

We keep living...we don't let life get in our way. We can't let life keep us down, stress us out, break our spirits or consume our thoughts. Life is no excuse for not living to our fullest potential. So often I hear people putting their lives on hold because of life, and I'm not saying there aren't times when life demands our attention, such as with an illness, death, job loss, etc. I am saying that we must do everything in our power to not let life control, manipulate and take over our lives.

Life will go on with or without us, so why not live?

because they couldn't

I graduated from college because so many weren't allowed to learn to read & write
I went to church this morning because Betty will never go again
I own my own home because others had been locked out
I own rental property because my parents dreamed of owning some
I voted for Barack Obama on election day because my grandparents couldn't
I go to work Monday - Friday because my father worked everyday
I willingly serve others because millions were forced to do it
and I live because they lived

So many things I take for granted, I try not to. It is my desire to be thankful, grateful, appreciative of everyone, everyone, everyone and everything in my life. I know it doesn't have to be this way; I know my blessings are from God; I know that it is only God's grace, mercy, love, care, kindness and compassion that gives me breath every second of every day.