makes me think

^^ Today, I interviewed a woman who is terminally ill. "So," I tried to delicately ask, "What is it like to wake up every morning and know that you are dying?" "Well," she responded, "What is it like to wake up every morning and pretend that you are not?"

^^ Today, one of my best friends, Charlie, shot himself in the head at approximately 2PM. And I just noticed that I have a missed call from him on my cell phone with a timestamp of 1:56PM.

^^ Today, as soon as my 5-year-old baby brother came into my room, I yelled at him to get out without even looking up at him. When he didn't listen and I turned around to yell again, I noticed he had a bowl of cherries (my favorite) in his hands. He said, "Sorry, I just wanted to share these with you."

^^ Today I was approached by a homeless man who asked if I had any change. I only had two dimes, but I gave it to him anyway. As I watched him walk away, he put the dimes in an expired parking meter of a strangers car.

^^ Today, on the one year anniversary of my boyfriend’s death, I decided it was time to clear his clothes out of our closet. In one of his coat pockets I found a diamond engagement ring and concert tickets to my favorite band dated the Saturday after he passed.

^^ Today, I'm a neurosurgery candidate, going under the knife in 2 days. Last month I was a healthy 24 year old female athlete. Today, signed a DNR, just in case I come out as a vegetable. Today, I had to make a living will. Is it really my time? In 48 hours I’ll find out.

^^ Today when I read the news about the healthcare debate, I thought of my dad, who died of colon cancer at 86. When the doctor told him he could have 6 to 8 more weeks with chemo and radiation, my dad was horrified. "Spend Medicare money on me when there are kids without health insurance? I'm 86!"

^^ Today, I was at the grocery store when a young mother was pushing one of the carts that has a built in car on the front for her son to drive. He was spinning the steering wheel all over the place and his mother was making the cart go side to side, trying to match his steering without his knowledge. He thought he had all the power and control and she kept playfully telling him to slow down despite the fact that she controlled the speed. He was so happy. And this simple moment in the midst of my hectic day.

^^ Today, I got a blister on the back of my ankle from my shoes. I was sitting on the bus on the way home with my shoe off because it hurt. A homeless man sitting in the row across from me leaned over with something in his hand. Expecting him to hand me something I wouldn't want, I prepared to politely decline his offer. He said, "You might want this for your ankle so you can put it back in your shoe with it hurting," and handed me a band-aid.

(makesmethink.com)