Last week, I stood in my parent's kitchen serving food to a large group of family that had gathered to attend my father's funeral. After making sure that everyone got served, I took a few minutes to eat before we had to leave for the visitation. The menu was not what I would normally eat, but was food that had kindly been brought by friends in the community to support my mom and our family. As I ate my piece of lasagna and garlic bread, I commented out loud, "This is not what I'm used to eating." A relative overheard me, walked up, and said, "Kara, you know you only live once."
After reassuring her that I was not a deprived person, but actually eat delicious food all the time and lots of it, I thought about what she said to me. "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE." I realized that this statement can be interpreted in two very different ways.
MY WAY: Yes, I only live once, therefore, I want to have the strongest, healthiest body I can possibly have and am determined to fill it with healthy "fuel" that makes me feel good and help me reach my goals. Lasagna and bread are not on that list.
HER WAY: I only live once, so I'm going to eat whatever I want, whenever I want, however much I want and I don't care what it does to my body. Without too much detail, she is a very large person. This view of "only living once" is not helping her OR making her happy. This view will most assuredly shorten her life.
Which way are YOU going to view it? Make the most out of your life and take care of yourself or not really care and do whatever, whenever even if you know it's not good for you?
Yes, you only live once. How will you live?
