Planting a Seed..

So I heard a passage yesterday that goes something like this...A young man came upon a elderly man who was planting a seed in order to grow a fruit tree. The young man asked him "Why are you planting a seed for a tree whose fruit you're never going to see?" The elderly man replied, "I live my life as if I am never going to die." The young man smiled and thought to himself, "How ironic, I live my life as if today is my last day on earth!"

This interests me because many people live as if there were no guarantees of another day here on earth, me being one of them. Go for it! That's been my modo...Do it while there is still time, you never know if tomorrow your are going to get hit by a bus or something!

I think this kind of thought inspires courage to go after what you want and achieve your dreams, but it doesn't speak much to patience and being of service.

I like this new perspective of living as if I am never going to die. The thought itself gives me a chance to pause, take a deep breathe, and consider what to do next. It helps to dissolve fear and anxiety and bring me into the present moment. It also gives me an opportunity to ask,"What can I do to help the planet, an animal or another person have a better experience now and in the years to come...?"