I ran across a few words of wisdom written by George Carlin shortly after his wife died. 

As my own uncle passed away a few days before Christmas, it made me re-evaluate what are the important things in life. I for one, will be committing to a New Year of doing the things that make myself and others happy. I hope it inspires you to look inside as well. 

A Message by George Carlin:

 The paradox of our time in history is that we have

taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower

viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less

time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less

judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less

wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly,

laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up to o late, get

up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our

values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to

the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new

neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done

larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve

conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn

less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learne d to rush, but not

to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce

more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,

big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but

broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,

throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that

do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is

much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when

technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose

either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because

they are not going to be around forever.

And please say a kind word to someone who looks up to you

in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. 

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,

because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it

doesn’t cost a cent. 

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for

someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to

share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND DEFINITELY REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,

but by the moments that take our breath away.