No Day But Today....

The heart may freeze or it can burn

The pain will ease if I can learn

    Jonathan Larson had worked seven years on his musical Rent before someone took a risk and produced it on broadway.  He was 35 years old when he attended the final rehearsal before opening night.  After the successful rehearsal, Jonathan went home and was later found dead by his roommate.  He had died from an aortic dissection and never got to see his musical on broadway or receive his three Tony awards or Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

There is no future

There is no past

Thank God this moment's not the last

    Stieg Larsson was left by his very poor parents to be raised by his grandparents.  He grew up to become a Swedish journalist and writer.  He died at the age of 50 from a heart attack after climbing seven flights of stairs to his office.  His trilogy of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was published shortly after his death.  Stieg was unable to see his greatest works in bookstores or made into movies.  Stieg became the second bestseller in the world and the first in the U.S.  He was shorted on experiencing any of this.

There's only us
There's only this
Forget regret-- or life is yours to miss.
No other road
No other way
No day but today

    Anne Frank was born into a Jewish family in Germany and lost her citizenship shortly after.  Her family then moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands.  The Nazis soon invaded the Netherlands and forced Anne and her family into hiding.  They were eventually caught and moved to a concentration camp where Anne passed away at the age of 15 from typhus.  Her diary was published shortly after her death and has become one of the best descriptions of such a tragic time.  Due to her short life, Anne was unable to see her people freed or her diary published.

There's only yes
Only tonight
We must let go
To know what is right
No other course
No other way
No day but today

    John Kennedy Toole grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and later attended Tulane University and Columbia University where he advanced his writing skills.  During his time in the army, John began writing a novel entitled "The Confederacy of Dunces."  The publication of this novel was rejected by many which led John to end his life at the age of 31.  His book was later published, and although too late, John was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

I can't control
My destiny
I trust my soul
My only hope
is just to be

    Adrienne Shelly began her acting career at the age of 10 where years later she starred in a few independent films.  Shortly after these roles, she transitioned into writing and directing.  Adrienne wrote, directed, and co-starred in the movie "Waitress."  She was murdered several months before its release at the age of 40 and unable to accept the five awards that it received.

There's only now
There's only here
Give in to love
Or live in fear
No other path
No other way
No day but today

    

    We as animals get caught up in the same routine, yet unlike other animals, we as humans have the ability to recognize these habits.  Oftentimes, we forget that each day is a gift that we should probably do more with than painfully go through the same, familiar steps.  It is our responsibility to truly live each day to its fullest, "carpe diem."  I forget this sometimes and often fall into my daily schedule of sleeping, laundry, and cooking when the world is just at my fingertips.  Life is more than a good nap, although we all love these from time to time.  Life is about all those things we get to experience with others that make the best memories.

    When was the last time that you laughed until your stomach hurt or cried until you were unattractively puffy?  When was the last time that you treated yourself to a broadway show or even a piece of cheesecake?  When was the last time you sang as loudly as you could and danced ridiculously?  When was the last time you interrupted your routine of breakfast, work, and dinner for doing something you love to do?  Do you even remember what you love to do or has it been lost among your daily routine?  These things make us who we are, and if we lose them, we are no longer distinguished individuals but just a group of beings, only we aren't being.

    With these individuals' stories, I hope that I have reminded you that life is far too short.  We usually reflect on this when someone near to us passes away, but it is time to ask ourselves these questions daily.  Stop cheating yourself and live as if there's "No day but today..."