I used to be so conservative and fearful of what could go wrong, I forgot to think about the things that could go right. We should never regret things we have done, even if they were not smart at the time. We should have learned from them at that point. Now I am not referring to the obvious wrongs, such as most things illegal. I am talking about not doing things because of fear: fear of the unknown; fear of rejection; fear of failure.
Just before my son passed, asking him about his motivation, aspirations, and goals in regards to what the pages of his autobiography would say and hearing his response that his pages would be full, I totally understand that he did LIVE and most of it was without those fears. In fact, I think he coined the phrase, “Hold my beer. Watch this…” I love to tell, and hear, stories of that kid and his fearless energy! I know, I could look back and say this about any night but the night we lost him. This was not in my control, and I am sure his first words when we meet in Heaven will be “I’m sorry.” But we can’t go there…
However, I can go down memory lane a little. The kid sang with someone famous on stage; sunk his truck in a mud pit; loved a girl with all his heart; sang loudly and knew every song on any radio station. He met more people in his 24 years and would have given the shirt off his back to any friend in need. He called his dad in the middle of the night to get him unstuck 45 miles from home, knowing he’d probably be mad, but would still come with all the tools they needed. He gave me gray hair then, and thinking about these stories reminds me, he can still cause the same hair color issues!
My point of this is not drag anyone down my memory lane with all these stories, but to express that we should not be afraid to create stories. You have to live to do that. It took losing my son to understand life! I want to encourage others to live outside your comfort zone when it comes to the “things I did while I was alive” list. Again, the mom in me wants to remind you that these should not be illegal!! Take a road trip and go somewhere you have never been before. Don’t be afraid to speak to someone you see all the time but don’t know. Pay for the coffee for the customer behind you in line. If the phrase starts with “watch this” or “hold my beer,” I hope it makes you smile first!! ( and I hope you don’t get hurt)! My longest and dearest friend had this phrase begin many of her sentences while we were young, and I admired her for that. I sat in the passenger seat with my eyes closed!!
Sometimes, the broken road leads to a more appreciated tomorrow! Sometimes, it leads to scars that have great stories! Whatever road it leads you to, there is a reason for the encounter. Embrace it!! Don’t be afraid of that! Our lives have meaning, but so do the memories! Make memories today!
Disclaimer: the picture is not of any actual situation involving anyone I know, but is captioned off the Internet.
#holdmybeerwatchthis
#embracelife
#memoriesneverfade
#whatdoesntkillusmakesusstronger
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