Thought of the day 09

[Bill Renda]

Don’t ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive, and go for it.
Because what the world needs
Is people who have come alive

[Bill Renda]

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it

[Bill Renda]

How many of you remember going to an amusement park as a young child?
Remember your earliest days there? You most likely went on the merry go round because it was safe, think about it you went round and round nice and slow and the horse went up and down and that was it, round and round, up and down, safe and predictable right?
Then as you got older you went for the mother of all rides, the roller coaster!
And in doing so hopefully you went on one of the older wooden ones that creaked and groaned as you went sailing by going through hairpin corners as you felt the wheels leave the track on one side and really wondered “is this thing safe”! Yet you went on again and again didn’t you?
Heart pounding maybe even thinking at time that this thing is bound to fail at some point? Yet back on we’d go to experience the sudden drops and crazy turns all over again.
Life is kind of like that and if we look around we’ll see some people just play it safe and go round and round nice and slow having a fairly predictable life, while others go for life full throttle and jump on that coaster not knowing how predictable it is but having the ride of a lifetime and feeling your heart pump knowing “I’m ALIVE”!!!
In life I think I’ll join the roller coaster crowd, not as safe, no guarantees but in the end I want to be standing there saying damn what a ride!
How do you want to live your life?

Bill Renda

[Bill Renda]

I think the thing most people miss about living is the fact that sometimes it takes the painful things to teach us, to nudge us back on our path and guide us on our journey.
All to often we never get the message and just stare at the very cause of pain and curse, we never look and ask what is this teaching me? What is this unveiling to me?
A friend once told me how my thoughts of death were morbid and disgusting and I laughed because she was still in a fantasy world were death is hidden and not talked about, where death is shooshed by elders, yet she is missing the very point of it all and that is the fact that death can be our greatest teacher, for those who know how to die, know also how to live.

[Bill Renda]

Do you like to read?
I would guess for most people that’s a question of what do you like to read not do you.
I like reading true story’s, story’s of compassion and sometimes story’s that are just plain a little out there for most to believe but I enjoy them all.
The last few days I’ve been reading a book call Tuesdays with Morrie, it’s a very heavy hearted book but it shows us what’s really important in our lives and the world around us.
I was thinking this morning “Gee I wish I had someone like that in my life to share their thoughts on life, death, and the present moment, and then it hit me! I did!
I had a Morrie in my life only his name was Bernie.
Bernie was a man in his early 60’s who was gay and hid it well out of shame, he traveled the world and visited incredible places like Africa, Egypt, you name it he was there and had the photos to prove it.
Bernie gave my daughter a real African mask carved out of wood, Bernie had artifacts and little pieces of the world all over his home.
Now comes my mistake, probably one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made, I didn’t see the opportunity, I didn’t seize the chance to brail his life and ask so many questions about life, and places and himself, I didn’t have the chance of being fully human to a man who was dying of cancer and now its too late, Bernie is gone and all the knowledge and places and memory’s and even his dreams are gone.
I heard a phrase one time that said every time an old person dies its like a library burns down, how true.
My reasons for not recognizing this opportunity? Time, simply time, I was stupidly to busy to see what was right in front of me.
You see God gives you the answer’s, God guides you through this maze of life but you must recognize and seize the opportunities, the moments in life when answers are laid at our feet for the taking. Some of the most profound thoughts and wisdom will come from these incredible people and most people don’t even want to be around them because death is a taboo to talk about yet it’s the biggest part of life and we’re all heading there at some point in our life. Lesson of this whole talk you might ask?
Keep your eye’s open, seize the chances anytime they are in front of you, grab every moment to brail an older or dying persons life, you wont regret it. Try visiting a hospice and volunteering even a small amount of time, trust me you wont see what you think, you’ll meet and talk to the most wonderful people at the end of their lives who just want a touch, they want to be loved, and they want to share their story of life-even with a stranger.
Here's to you Morrie, and here’s to you Bernie, may you both be sharing stories of life and your fantastic journeys through it, you are missed, Amen.

Today’s thought is dedicated to my mom Stella who shared her life and dreams with me and gave me the greatest gift any man can get-being able to take care of her and seeing her through to her next journey, you also are missed.

Bill Renda

[Bill Renda]

I would say to those who mourn…. Look
Upon each day that comes as a challenge, as
A test of courage. The pain will come in
Waves, some days worse than others, for no
apparent reason. Accept the pain. Do not
suppress it. Never attempt to hide grief.

Daphne du Maurier

[Bill Renda]

Today is a day of choices for me, I can sit down and be sad thinking how awful it is my mom and wife have both passed, how my daughters life is so unfair not having a mom, I can sit and wallow in despair or I can be grateful I had my mom live to the ripe age of 87.
I can say thank you to God for giving me four years with a wife who was an angel heaven sent that brought me more smiles in four years than most people have in forty years.
I can remember the learning, the laughing and the love which has so enriched my life and be thankful these to ladies were in it.
Today I will miss you both but I promise not to cry, I will remember and share the wonders of your lives and be grateful I had you both,
Happy mothers day girls