When does desire stop and living begin?

Achievement, one of society's strongest driving forces. It begins when we start crawling and ends when we give up hope on living. Too often, we drive towards finish lines that are either manufactured or keep moving; and forget why we are driving in the first place. How may dreams, desires, and accolades must a person have; before they stop and think “how lucky I am to be here”, “how fortunate I am to have what I have”, and, “how can I celebrate the fruits of labor with my loved ones”?

This week, after a long and difficult last few days dealing with our epileptic 20-year-old in ICU and me being about as mad as a father could be, my wife shared with me a 30-year-old essay, by Robert Hastings, called the “The Station”. This essay was syndicated nationally by Ann Landers, and I believe points out that much has not changed in our emotional evolution over the last 50 years or so.

We are still chasing dreams, still chasing the finish line, and accolades, yet at a far more rapid pace than the past. I remember my grandfather saying that cemeteries are parking lots for regret, despair, and fear; and I think this article may shed some more light on the statement.

If anything, maybe this will help us all think twice about where we are, what we have, and what matters most.