Not If But When

I often watch Australian Story.  Not every episode is absorbing, but some are.  I found the one the other night that way.  It was about a couple.  She was an exceptional soccer player.  A forward.  He was a goalie.   They don’t normally get on.  But this couple fell in love.  One day he collapsed.  When taken to hospital they found he had a brain tumour.  I have forgotten the word, but it was second level.  Later on they discovered it had gone to third level.  Level Four is basically bye, bye.  Long story short, he proposed to her after her last game while cameras were rolling and it went viral.
The reason she was giving up is he had received his diagnosis and she wanted to dedicate what time they had to him.  He had supported her big time in chasing her dream.
What really got me was something she said.  “It is not if but when.”  They know something is down the road and do not dwell on it, but make the most of the time they have.
They know their time is limited but “not if but when” made me think that is the prognosis for me.  It may be before this article is finished.  I may live long and prosper.  No matter what the case though it really is for me “not if but when.”
A few I know went in the last week.  Gavin MacLeod the captain of the Love Boat (not that I ever watched the show.  It was panned by critics but really popular).  B J Thomas went.  He was really famous for “Raindrops keep falling on my head.”  I remember him best for singing “Home where I belong.”  He’s there now.
It seems to me to be right and proper not to dwell on what is inevitable, but to live life to the full.  I do not forget though that decisions I make now need to be made in the light of “when.”
That is the thing that really got me.  I really feel like goofing off sometimes or doing stuff I know is no good for anyone.  To me that is especially hard to break when it is a habit.
But I do constantly remind myself that decisions made now have consequences.  Even the seemingly inconsequential ones.  I am fond of the thought that many little things make a big thing.  For sure what may be hard now is easier next time.  It is a principle.  It is why I practice – so what may be hard is easier next time.
After the stroke I had to practice talking again.  People tell me I am easier to understand now.  The more I did it right, the better I got.  There are some carpentry tasks I find easy as I have practiced by doing them a number of times.  Others are definitely a challenge.  Trouble is, it can be years between doing something.  What I find really frustrating is so often a task looks easy and then when I go to do it, it is not like it was on You Tube.  They have practiced.  I haven’t.
I appreciate though that for me it is not a matter of “if” but “when.”  I may have practiced a million times or just once.  Whatever the amount, it is enough, but where possible a million times is better.