The Year Ahead
Live like you were dying. That song played while I was working out. It’s my favorite Tim McGraw song. It also feels like an unofficial anthem for 2025.
The song is 20 years old now. Its lyrics tell the story of a man in his early 40s who just received an unexplained health diagnosis. His friend asked him the man’s reaction upon learning the sad news.
"When it sank in
That this might really be the real end
How's it hit you
When you get that kind of news?
Man, what'd you do?"
The man decides to make the most of whatever time that he has left. And he did.
“I went skydiving,
I went Rocky Mountain climbing,
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu,
And I loved deeper,
And I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying,
And he said..’Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying…’"
Thankfully, I am healthy (fingers crossed), so my theme for the year does not follow a health crisis. And while I will likely avoid riding a bull named Fumanchu (or riding ANY bull), I feel like this song offers a lyrical push of guidance.
And my apologies if the setup to this was too overdramatic.
Maybe I am thinking about this at the start of 2025 because 25 is my favorite number. Maybe it is because this year brings another milestone birthday. Maybe it just follows treasured time with family and friends over the holidays…for which I am blessed and appreciative.
But 2025 feels like a significant year.
My son is learning to drive. My daughter is about to begin her final year with a single digit birthday. My wife just got named one of the Des Moines Register’s 15 people to watch in 2025.
The days go by quickly.
Yes, certain days feel like chaos. Some of our country was convinced that the United States would cease to exist if Donald Trump returns to the White House. Others believe that will happen because he returns to the White House.
Our communities have too many challenges to list right now. But we spend too much time focusing on what someone else did or did not say, whether another person is too sensitive or too mean or just too different from us. Hate, juvenile name-calling, and trying to show that you’re tougher than the other guy headline too much of the media attention.
I don’t have this all figured out. I don’t know where the year will lead. I don’t yet know where I want to take this column in the future. I don’t know my role in this world.
But there has to be a way for those of us who want to see everyone have the chance to live a better life — regardless of which political party we support — to engage, converse, and exchange ideas.
How can we share useful information? How can we elevate possible solutions?
Being pissed, frustrated, angry, apathetic, or bitter because of the challenges around us won’t accomplish anything.
We need dialogue. We need civility. We need solutions.
Maybe this is one. Des Moines had an old hotel. Dozens of people need another chance. Soon, this renovated building could provide the transitional housing that people need to rebuild their lives. Let’s talk more about ideas like this one.
I had a phone call with someone this week who told me that he was frustrated with the leadership of an organization to which he belongs. He said that he could just sit around and complain, or he could do something. He chose to do something.
Imagine if more of us embraced the latter instead of the former.
For me, that means prioritizing some things that I can control: be a better father, husband, son, sibling, friend, colleague, neighbor, and servant.
Time to stop putting something off until another time. Time to focus on what my role can be in making this place around me a little better today.
Just like that unnamed friend in the song from decades ago, it’s time to live like I am dying.
"Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying
Like tomorrow was a gift
And you've got eternity
To think about
What you'd do with it
What could you do with it
What did I do with it?
What would I do with it?
Skydiving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
Man, I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flying"
And he said,
’Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying.’”
Here’s the song and video from Tim McGraw.
Thanks for listening. And thanks for supporting what we are working to build here…even though I don’t quite yet know what it will be.
In the meantime, I need to learn more about how our country may buy Greenland, make Canada a state, and rename the Gulf of Mexico. Maybe we will take over Panama, too.
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Since I am 74 and in April will turn 75, I've been studying on this a few years since I had quadruple by-pass surgery due to Agent Orange. Right you are, everybody complains about something someone else has done that is screwing up the world, but what remains is turning the finger around and saying, "Well, what have I done to make this a better place?" Coming back home after a couple of years in Vietnam, I wasn't expecting much. My intentions were simply I had joined the Army to get "my military obligation out of the way, get a job and get on with my life." Six months in to Vietnam the rules all changed, and the lottery happened. After that, everybody seemed to take that chance and not as many "won"! The war was winding down and the whole business of Vietnam and those of us involved became the people everybody seemed to think was the reason! It was a tough road, and after a divorce and being left with house payments, child support, insurance, and everything else that demanded payment, it was tough going after being laid off from a decent job that never came back. Whatever money I made went to pay someone else, so with the deposit law, that became the way I ate! I have never forgotten those days! Now, after a long struggle with finding work over and over again I have finally succeeded in having plenty, a house that is paid for and everything in good shape! So after the surgery, I started collecting cans again, and I am getting pretty darned good at it! The first year I made $700, then I made $800 the next year, and each year since I have made more! The money goes to anything that is worthy of a little cash. I have often thought, for the lack of a little money, how many good ideas have gone nowhere? How many candidates have not run for office? how many things that are needed have been ignored? That is where my money goes!
Yes it can be messy, and beneath some people, but I have thick skin and a worthy smile, I hit a few dumpsters and take things other than cans to places that can use them. A place called "the Tiny House" in Hopkinton, Iowa sells used clothing and almost anything for a cheap price, all their help is volunteer, and the money they get largely goes to non-profits or things the community needs, like ambulance services, or fire departments etc. Last year they gave away $50,000! So they get lots of things I rescue from the land fill! And that is how I answered, "And what are you doing to make things a little better."
I love this:
“For me, that means prioritizing some things that I can control: be a better father, husband, son, sibling, friend, colleague, neighbor, and servant.”
A grassroots movement of one! And it can make difference. Bravo for putting it so eloquently.