The prospect of making New Year’s Resolutions has always grabbed my attention even as a child. I love the idea of a new year waiting to be filled with all life has to offer. I have since learned, of course, that often the future is filled with mixed events, but that possibility didn’t occur to me then.

Beginnings and endings intrigue me. The beginning of a day, with 24 hours to spend in some combination of leisure and work, and day’s end where accomplishments may bring satisfaction or a twinge of remorse. We all know tomorrow is promised to no one and yet we live as though there will be hundreds of tomorrows.

The week before Christmas, a friend, Gerry, was talking to her daughter on the phone, and moments later, Gerry died. A perpetually optimistic, active woman, she was involved in many avenues of sharing her time and resources. Likely her to-do list, either written or remembered, was detailed given the season’s activities, and the many loved ones involved in her life. But her time on earth was completed with no moment left to say or do one more thing. Such finality is difficult to comprehend.

We understand not to take tomorrow for granted, but we do. We know the foolishness of procrastination, but we rely on the future to accomplish tasks that needed attention weeks ago. Or we act as though we have forever to mend distant relationships or situations that barely include basic civility. Or to say to those special people in our lives, “I love you” or “I care about you.”

Living each day as though it’s our last one is sometimes suggested as a way of making each day count. I don’t find that helpful because if today were my last day, I wouldn’t be concerned about myriad tasks needing completion. Working with a senior population, where health and well-being are often fragile, has given me numerous reminders that time is of the essence. Expressions of gratitude or admiration need to be said or written now because next week may be too late.

So as the 2013 New Year begins and resolutions are formulated, and yes, losing weight and exercising more remain on the top of my list, I’m finally coming to terms with the idea that time has limitations not just for me but for others. Babies and children grow quickly so if I want to share in their childhood, I need to do so now. And if I want to have that special lunch at a fancy restaurant with a friend, we need to set a date. Not in hurried style, but in a way that allows us to savor the time together.

If next year at this time I have the chance to write about musings on the 2014 upcoming year, hopefully it will be with a sense of accomplishment and excitement about more opportunities. Gerry’s funeral was a beautiful, poignant reminder of living life to the fullest and integrating faith and love into each day as she did. Her time on this earth was spent on important aspects, like generosity and hospitality and love for others.

May 2013 be filled with wisdom, gratitude, joy, forgiveness, and promise for all of us! Make each day count!