The Last Time

Have you ever taken a moment to consider all the things you will experience for the last time?

Of course, there’ll come a day when we’ll die, and then everything would have been done for the last time.

But long before we answer death’s call, we will cease to have certain experiences even in this life, some of which we surely take for granted now.

For parents, when is the last time you will lift your child? read them a story and tuck them into bed?

I sat across from my son this weekend and took a long stare at him. I was surprised by how much he’d grown since I cut the umbilical cord moments after he had exited his mother’s womb.

I stood up and walked to him, then I cuddled him and planted a kiss on his cheek. It occurred to me how quickly life was moving and that the time may come when he might be put off by such mushy gestures and stop me from doing them.

Pondering things this way lends poignancy to everything, even to things we dislike, for instance, our work or fitness routine.

There will be a last time, and understanding this can alleviate the discomfort we feel in the moment and bring comfort even to experiences we dislike. It helps us acknowledge the possibility that we’ll miss such experiences when we can no longer partake in them.

We do everything for a finite amount of time. Even beautiful moments can be taken for granted when we are just trying to get to the end of whatever experience we’re having.

It was my mum’s posthumous birthday last weekend. She’d have been 83. I have a vivid recollection of our last moment together, the attire she wore, her smile, and how she hugged and kissed me before heading for the airport’s departure lounge on that day in 2010.

If only I’d known it was the last time. Perhaps I’d have prolonged or savoured that moment a little longer. I’d have been more present instead of rushing off to beat the M25 traffic.

What I do know now is that each time we do something, pleasant or unpleasant, that is one less time we’ll do it.

There’ll come a time when we’ll have done something for the final time, and we rarely know when this will be.

As you go about each day, consider that everything you’re doing is like this. Everything represents a finite opportunity to savour your life and relationships. On some level, everything is precious, and if it doesn’t seem that way, you’ll find that paying more attention will make it seem that way. Attention is our true source of wealth, even more than time, because we can waste time being distracted.

Take a little more care when you meet someone for the first time. Shake their hand, and pay a little more attention. When you thank someone for something, mean it a little more. Connect with your life.

Remember - “Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.” ― Marcus Aurelius

Peace, Love and Light