re: the last time you do something

A television show I watched last night featured a couple experiencing their last day on Earth together.

They knew it would be their last day — that it would be the last time they’d see the sunrise, share a meal, walk by each other’s side, hug, etc.

As you might imagine, the knowledge that they were living their last day led to the kind of interactions that are best described as hefty yet beautiful and endearing.

They spoke from the heart without hesitation.

They acted with their hearts without hesitation.

There was really nothing to lose.

As they shared their final meal at the end of the episode and shared a gaze of mutual understanding, chills started to ripple down my spine as I reflected on the following:

In this fictional scenario, they have the luxury of knowing that it was their last time doing everything and could conduct themselves accordingly.

Most of us, however, will not get this luxury.

Most of us will end up visiting somewhere, sharing a meal with a loved one, or speaking with someone for the last time without realizing it.

One can’t help but wonder: what we would we do differently if we always knew when we were doing something for the last time?

What words would we choose to exchange or not?

What reactions would we choose to have or not?

What actions would we take or not?

I did not know that I was having the last conversation with my parent when it happened.

Had I known, there are easily so many things I would have omitted and so many other things I would have said and stressed.

Alas, I couldn’t have known. Most of us simply are not going to be fortunate enough to know when we’re doing something for the last time.

Even though most of the time you’re not going to be doing something for the last time, it makes sense to try to treat your interactions with the kind of sincerity that comes from understanding on a deep level that it absolutely could be the last time.

No matter how smooth-sailing things seem or how good in health someone may be, shit can hit the fan at any time — and when it does, it’s almost certainly too late.

One way forward with this dilemma is to resolve to conduct yourself in such a way that it wouldn’t matter if it were the last time or not.

This means speaking from the heart, letting people know what you need them to know — leaving nothing left said.

Acting with sincerity; being kind.

If it ends up not being the last time, no problem — that’s great.

If it is the last time, then won’t have any regret about how you acted or where you may have left things.