New life is small,

Helpless and innocent,

Born into this world without choices

Of the circumstances of family,

Gender, race,

Nationality, fairness of face,

Wealth, or lack thereof.

But with that first breath of life,

On an invisible clock,

The alarm is set.

Immediately, it begins ticking away,

Counting the hours

—the time allowed—

For each individual life to last.

The days determined before the alarm sounds

Remains a mystery,

Until they are history.

In this interim between birth and death,

This measure of time we call “our life,”

We are presented with choices--

Some by circumstances, not within our control,

Others by plan, but nonetheless

—Choices, Options, Selections—

Each requiring thought and feeling for decisions to be made.

So, using all, part or none of our mind and heart,

That which has been given each of us,

We can…

Triumph over struggles or allow despair to win;

Determine to soar with the eagles or merely exist;

Speak softly with reason or shout harsh words;

Touch others in a positive sense or allow negativity to control;

Always carry hope in your heart or allow desperation to reign;

Employ the gifts of talent or let them go to waste;

Smile with sunshine of soul or frown with darkness;

Allow adversity to teach or to embitter;

Appreciate each hour of life or curse it;

Forgive or take revenge;

Seize opportunity for growth or slowly degenerate;

Be a friend or an enemy;

Be gentle of spirit or hard of heart;

Love or hate;

Offer a helping hand or hinder another;

Praise or complain;

Find reasons to learn or use excuses for ignorance;

Scream at unfairness or take strides to right things;

Accept responsibility or place blame;

To mankind be a living rose petal or a sharp thorn;

And last, but not least,

Truly live or merely exist.

And then,

When the inaudible alarm sounds on the unseen clock,

Know that honorable choices have been made,

So that the last breath of life is with clear conscience,

Leaving a gift to mankind, a rich legacy,

Not of gold, nor silver,

But something far more everlasting,

Positive choices that have made a beautiful, productive life,

And have enhanced the lives of others,

Choices that have made each completed life

Much more than merely time measured on a clock.