Living for Today

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Added: Tue. Aug 26, 2008 2:30pm
Posted in: Living

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When I read that someone who is healthy, active, ambitious and inspirational has died – like an actress, or a sports star – I'm instantly saddened.  And that was my initial reaction when I saw that Dave Freeman had died in a freak accident at his home.  But while he was certainly taken too early, I think the way he lived his short life has a lot of lessons for the rest of us.

Freeman co-authored a book called 100 Things to Do Before You Die, and he and his friend Neil Teplica listed all of the adventures they hoped to take. 


Things like going to the Oscars, running with the bulls in Spain, going to Australia's Nude Night Surfing contest, and more.  And Dave actually made it to about half of them, according to Teplica, who spoke with the Los Angeles Times after news of his friend's death broke.

Teplica told the Times that the title of their book meant "you should live every day like it would be your last," and went on to say "It's a credit to Dave – he didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have."

Freeman was 47 years old, and most likely thought he would have another half-decade to carry out his dreams.  But he didn't take any chances, or push those dreams off to a far-away retirement.  He enjoyed the days he had.

How many of us actually live for today?  With jobs and families to take care of, or other obligations, I think a lot of people just say "someday" and that day never comes.

It reminds me of the movie "The Bucket List," which featured two men who knew they were going to die.  They decided to go out and do all of the things they had always wanted to do – before they kicked the bucket.  They knew they were going to die; Dave didn't.  But they all found ways to live in the moment.

It's inspirational, isn't it?  So what's on your list?