An old African proverb suggests “When death finds you, make sure it finds you alive.”  What wonderful advice to live by! It’s inspiring to me. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t fear death, but I’m not inviting it either. This saying reminds me simply to live fully. Or like Ralph Waldo Emerson said is important, “It’s not the length of life, but the depth of life.”

Too often I have lived tentatively, rather than jumping in with gusto.

The truth is, I’m a good planner. I have made plans, revised plans, scrapped plans, and rewritten plans. I can schedule, write out necessary steps, write contingencies, and really think through each plan. Ah, but the implementation phase. I’ve not been so good with that. I’ve been more likely to go back and rethink a plan rather than actually step into it. Thus, the tentative living.

Not any longer. I’m on a path of action, of doing. I’m looking to live greater depth of life because I have a lot to learn and a lot to give. I have a purpose to fulfill – I mean actually doing it, not just planning and thinking about it.

When death comes looking for me, I want him to arrive winded and breathing heavily. I want him to say, “Girl, I had a heck of a time trying to catch up with you. But come on, we’ve gotta go now.” Then I can contentedly lay down my pen and make my exit.

How about you?