A Little Bird on Your Shoulder

Morrie:
Don't look so sad because I'm going to die, Mitch.
Everybody is going to die. Even you.
But most people don't believe it.
They should have a bird on their shoulder. That what the Buddhist do.
They used to imagine a little bird on your shoulder, and everyday you say,
"Is this the day I am going to die, little bird? Am I ready?
Am I leading the life I want to lead? Am I that the person I want to be?"
If we accept the fact that we can die at any time, we would live our lives differently.
So everyday you'd say, "Is this the day? hmm?"
If you did have a bird on your shoulder, you would not put off the things closest to your heart.

* Extracted from the movie, "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

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Is there anything in life closest to us that we require to do? Things that we may have always left one side, because we'll have time for it one day? Something for our family, something for the people that we've taken for granted? If we did see each day as the last day of our life, it is true, we may see things differently... Think about the things you need to do ... list them out and see what can be done in 2009 ... the year of 2008 may be over, but let life begin today.