Life: the most important cliche you'll hear.

A doll. A toy pick-up truck. A new car. Tickets to the Super Bowl. An RV. Life.

What all these things have in common is that all are potential gifts. All of these things can be given to us without asking for it. Whether it's for one's birthday or a sweet sixteen or a retirement present. Five out of these six are gifts given to us by other people.

And then there's life.

No matter what you may believe about how life starts, it is a gift, no? No one is guaranteed a life in this world. I am just as guilty as everyone else. Daily do I go about living life as if I have all the time in the world until life ends. It is interesting to me, however, that we as humans don't realize how grateful we should be for this life until something terribly tragic or drastic happens. Until that death or tragedy happens do we realize how precious or short life is.

We should all be aware of this on a daily basis. Any given day could be the last. Yes, this is just as cliche-sounding to me the millionth and first time I hear it as it is the millionth time, but it is very true. It's just a cliche because so many people keep repeating it, since we always forget. We need to be reminded of this all the time. It wouldn't be repeated this much if it weren't important, now would it?

And as you go to sleep, the thought process should be to have no regrets about whatever happened in that given day. Take tonight: tonight is the last July 13th/14th, 2011 that will ever happen. Have you said "I love you!" to someone special or loved? Have you gotten everything off your chest (like that thing that has been on your mind and heart for a year and a half, but was too scared to tell that person immediately)? Have you fixed any wrongs? Are there still wrongs on the table that need to be made right? It's best to accomplish these things as soon as possible.

After all, who knows when the decided end will come?