Before I Die...

Unless we are fortunate enough to stick around until the Rapture, every single one of us is going to die. There's no getting out of it; our only choice is whether we do it on our own terms, which my religion teaches is a sin--no different than murder--or wait to be called home by Our Heavenly Father. I don't mean for this blog to be a downer. Quite the opposite: It is meant to be encouraging. If you are still drawing breath, then there is still hope: for redemption, for reconciliation, for change, for forgiveness, for action, and fulfillment, and closure. Before I die, I want to make a difference on this planet. I'm not aiming for anything extravagant: I just want to be a good friend, a good mother, a good daughter, a good sister, and a good spouse. I want to be faithful, supportive, trustworthy and honest with my fellow humans. I want to intuitively kmow when a kind word is needed, and I want to have the courage to offer it. I want to be kind, respectful and appreciative to all God's creatures. I want to adhere to the Hippocratic Oath: to first, do no harm. I want to draw breath and exhale it in a way that says, "I am here, fully present, and eager to make a positive difference." I want to use my time wisely in ways that encourage and uplift. Let no one whom I encounter walk away any the worse, and hopefully better. I want to live like I'm dying. Because I am. And so are you. But if I am honest, one of the things I want to accomplish most before I die, is to publish one more book: the book I promised Mrs. Pooser I would see to fulfillment, on her behalf. Anne Pooser spent years researching an historical figure who, to this day, has not received her just notoriety. When Anne could no longer continue the research, she magnanimously gave me all of her notes and everything she had written to date. It was a selfless thing to do; she yearned to tell the story more than she wanted the recognition. And as of this writing, I continue to let her down, although I have tried very hard to make her dream come true. Just a few days ago, I submitted her story to another novel contest, and With each submission I am, once again, hopeful. Because I have not (yet) been turned down again. I like this pocket of possibility. Publishing is a very difficult business, but I continue to persevere, and have recently sent the manuscript to a novel-writing contest. Just doing that one little thing gives me hope. Because until the answer is positively "NO,", then answer can still be "YES." I would like to hear from you. What is that one thing that you secretly hope to accomplish before you die? Send me your deepest, most private, yet-to-be realized accomplishment. Perhaps we can encourage each other.