Hmmm, did the couple riding in that taxi doing 100 clicks an hour northbound on Highway 427 know it was spewing a streamer of blue smoke out the tailpipe?<\/p>\n
On a typical, bone-chilling January day, when car exhaust crystallizes in the air, I wouldn\u2019t have given that taxi a second thought. But, on this unusually balmy day, I did a double take when I saw that smoke tail. It was clear that the engine hadn\u2019t been serviced in some time. I couldn\u2019t help but wonder if the brakes had been ignored as well.<\/p>\n
It was one of those wake-up calls we get from time to time reminding us that our fate is not always in our own hands. A relative of mine had a heart wrenching dose of that reality a few days ago. Her daughter hit an ice patch on the drive home from work, lost control and went off the road. Hours later this 20 year old died on the operating table. A terrible, tragic event whose shock waves will never entirely fade away.<\/p>\n
At sobering times like these that popular philosophical question comes to mind: What would you do if you knew you were going to die in a very short period of time? Would you make a \u201cbucket list\u201d and do everything on it a la Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? Would go sky diving and Rock Mountain climbing like the popular Tim McGraw song advocates?<\/p>\n
Pop philosophy tells us to \u201clive every day as if it was the last day of your life\u201d. Sounds good in principle. Theoretically you\u2019ll have no regrets if your demise comes suddenly. But in the real world that\u2019s not particularly practical. The business of living, and meeting your day to day responsibilities, seldom allows us the leisure to act in that manner.<\/p>\n
My take on the situation is admittedly less inspirational but, I would argue, a bit more doable. When my time comes, there are two questions I hope I can honestly answer \u201cyes\u201d to. Here\u2019s the first one.<\/p>\n
Was I on the up side of the plus\/minus equation? This concept comes from the game of hockey. It\u2019s the difference between the number of goals your team scores while you are on the ice (plus) versus the number of goals scored against<\/em> your team while you are on the ice (minus). If you\u2019re total is on the plus side, you\u2019re a good, two-way player.<\/p>\n I attempt to live my live in such a way that the amount I give back to society (plus) is higher than what I take out of it (minus). Mind you, I have no illusions of sainthood. A score of plus 3 or 4 works for me.<\/p>\n If I were to make a \u201cBucket List\u201d, it would likely include spending a month in the rain forest in Costa Rica watching birds, butterflies and dragonflies. But that may not come to be. I won\u2019t consider my life a failure if I don\u2019t get there.<\/p>\n The more important question to me is: In the final tally, was I true to myself? Did I live by the principles I believe in? Did I understand and accept<\/em> who I am and take the path that pointed me to? Quite honestly, that choice may make my life a bit tougher with less tangible rewards. But at the end of the day \u2013 and at the end of my life \u2013 that\u2019s the measure I choose for myself.<\/p>\n That taxi cruising down the 427 with a smoke belching engine \u2013 and maybe brakes worn down to the rotors \u2013 is a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of life. We are all potentially just a patch of black ice or a single, negligent act away from having our ticket punched prematurely.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll consider myself fortunate if the Costa Rica trip is under my belt when my time comes premature or otherwise. But I\u2019m more concerned about a favourable plus\/minus score and the assurance that I took the path that was meant for me.<\/p>\n What is your path? Are you on it? If not, it may be time to stop and recalibrate. Life is short and unpredictable\u2026 and there\u2019s no second chance once the curtain comes down.<\/p>\n ~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of \u201cUntil the Deep Water Stills \u2013 An Internet-enhanced Novel\u201d.<\/strong> Visit Michael\u2019s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com<\/a> or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com\/blog<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n