Talk of the Town: Live like it’s your last day

Listening to the lyrics of Tim McGraw’s country-western hit, “Live Like You Were Dyin’” makes me think that he’s right.

Given the morbid news that you only had a short time to live, what would you do?

McGraw sings about a friend who tells him he has a terminal illness. Some of the lyrics go like this:

“I went sky divin’,

I went rocky mountain climbin’,

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu.

And I loved deeper,

And I spoke sweeter,

And I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying,

And he said someday I hope you get the chance,

To live like you were dyin’.”

If you could write your own obituary, what would it say?

Judging by the success of the movie “The Bucket List,” lots of people are re-examining their lives these days, and looking into what it takes to be truly happy and fulfilled!

“The Bucket List,” directed by Rob Reiner and starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, centers around corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Freeman).

They have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die — their “kick the bucket” list. In the process, they heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find the joy in life.

Syndicated radio talk show host John Tesh and his researchers looked at a poll in the Boston Globe, done by writer John Izzo.

Izzo asked hundreds of seniors how they found happiness in life. Virtually everyone said their greatest happiness came from things they tried and risks they took, whether they worked out or not. Their greatest regrets stemmed from the things they never tried at all.

In other words: people near the end of their life wish they had taken more risks!

Izzo also found that happier people tend to be givers. That means they put other people’s needs ahead of their own. It’s usually the ones who spend their whole life being selfish who end up miserable in the end.

Consider the retired CEO who wished he had shown more love to his wife and spent more time with his kids when they were growing up.

He says the sad reality is that his coveted Aston Martin never comes to visit him in his posh nursing home!

That doesn’t mean you should deny yourself enjoyment along the way.

Often people wait until they retire or are facing death to make a “bucket list” of things they’d like to experience.

Consider a guy like Daniel Klein, who says he’s happy even though he’s been unemployed most of his life.

He says he spent 15 years after college working as “a professional drifter,” before becoming a best-selling author.

In that down time, he accomplished most of his personal bucket list, which included writing a novel, and marrying a European woman.

Klein says too many people spend their time postponing satisfaction, because they believe they have infinite time to live. He reminds us of a point philosophers have professed for generations: that the only way to feel truly alive, is to be constantly aware that you’re going to die.

So ask yourself again: are you truly happy? If you’re not - what are you waiting for?

More of Tim McGraw’s vocals:

“And I loved deeper,

And I spoke sweeter,

And I watched an eagle as it was flyin’.

And he said someday I hope you get the chance,

To live like you were dyin’.”

The P.E.O. Sisterhood has recently started a new chapter here in Green Valley. The organizational meeting for chapter F.B. of the P.E.O. Sisterhood was held Jan. 12 at La Perla at La Posada.

Susan Hildebrand, organizer of Arizona State, presided over the meeting.

Local women participating until officers were elected included Laura Krueger, who served as secretary for the day; Gerri Appleton, who gave devotions, and Kay Albrecht, pianist for the meeting.

P.E.O. is is philanthropic organization interested in and actively providing increased opportunities for women in higher education. The organization was originally founded as a college sorority at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on Jan. 21, 1869.

The P.E.O. Sisterhood has grown to an international women’s group.

Initiates into the new chapter included: Shelia Bozeman, Terry Giovanelli, Barbara Hinton, Ruth Hofferth, Phyllis Kittleson and Barbara Newton.

Others who have demitted from their previous membership in chapter C.A. to become members of Chapter F.B. are DiAnn Bresina, Annabelle Davidson, Jane Davis, Jane Gibbs, Darlene Herrick, Nan Hinrichsen, Bobbie Richards, Tovey Alley, Bettie Thayer, Anne Wolfe, Libby Holden and Parkie Copeland who demitted from Iowa Chapter A.U.

Those elected to office in this new chapter and who will serve through 2008-09 are: DiAnn Bresina (president), Darlene Herrick (vice president), Bettie Thayer (recording secretary), Erma Pascalar (corresponding secretary), Nan Hinrichsen (treasurer) Tovey Talley (chaplain) and Jane Davis (guard).

Arizona State officers who presided over the initiation ceremony were: Susan Hildebrand, Alix Smith, Laurie Cosolito, Tracy Johnson, Joan Conner, Gayle Meltzer and Barbara Horton.

Past state president Pat Hotchkiss acted in the capacity of prompter.

Chapter C.A. sponsored the organization of Chapter F.B. and hosted a reception for the guests. Pam Campbell is president of Chapter C.A.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740