We Have Today… Or Do We?

There are certain days that make you stop and think about how short and unpredictable life really is.

September 11 is one of those days.

Twenty-five years ago today, people woke up and went about their morning expecting an ordinary day. They went to work. They took their children to school. They kissed their spouses goodbye. They made plans for later that day.

They had no idea their lives were about to change forever.

And every September 11, I find myself thinking about that.

Because the truth is, none of us really knows what tomorrow holds.

That thought has been especially heavy on my heart lately.

As I mourned the anniversary of Charlie Kirk's death yesterday, I found myself thinking about something I said after he was killed.

“I am Charlie Kirk.”

But yesterday, I stopped and asked myself a harder question:

Am I actually living the life I said I was going to live?

Have I become a better person?

Am I taking better care of myself?

Am I making more time for God?

Am I going to church as often as I said I would?

Am I making enough time for the people I love?

Have I forgiven the people I need to forgive?

Have I asked for forgiveness where I need to?

Are there words I need to say while I still have the chance to say them?

Am I putting off things that shouldn't be put off?

And if I'm being completely honest...

The answer isn't always yes.

Life gets busy.

Work needs to be done. Families need us. There are appointments and responsibilities and a never-ending list of things that seem to need our attention.

Sometimes we spend so much time taking care of everything else that we forget to take care of ourselves.

And maybe that's what I've been thinking about most.

I said I was going to live differently.

Have I?

Maybe some things have changed.

Maybe some haven't changed enough.

And maybe that's okay.

Because recognizing that isn't failure.

It's an opportunity to begin again.

I don't have to wait for January 1st.

I don't have to wait for the perfect Monday.

I don't have to wait until life slows down.

I can begin today.

Maybe beginning again means making that phone call you've been putting off.

Maybe it's asking someone for forgiveness.

Maybe it's finally forgiving someone else.

Maybe it's going back to church.

Maybe it's taking better care of your body.

Maybe it's spending an extra hour with someone you love instead of telling yourself you'll make time later.

Maybe it's simply becoming a little more intentional about the life you're already living.

Because we don't know how much time we have.

But we do have today.

And perhaps that's the real question I need to keep asking myself—not just today, but every day:

Am I actually living the life I said I was going to live?

If the answer is no, maybe I don't need to feel guilty.

Maybe I just need to begin again.

One phone call.

One apology.

One prayer.

One act of forgiveness.

One decision to take better care of myself.

One more moment with someone I love.

One day at a time.

Because someday, “someday” runs out.

We don't know how much time we have.

But we have today.

And maybe today is a good day to begin again.

Sending you all Love and Light today...

— Dr. Lara