"Live every day as if it were your last, because one of these days, it will be." - Jeremy Schwartz

Our little trip on Planet Earth is a one-time deal and it does not last forever. Depending on how we look at it, that may be a very somber thought or it could be a tremendous source of motivation. One way or another, it certainly changes the perspective from which we view life.

When we take an honest look at the fact that our time is limited, everything changes. There is no more time for pettiness, there is little time for worries and all that really matters is what we truly want to accomplish before the final curtain falls.

With maturity we get to understand that life is about productivity. It's about doing, achieving and growing in the process. We also get to understand that life is about engagement. It's about contribution, it's bout making a statement, and it's about fulfilling our manifest destiny.

Seen in this light, our mortality becomes a great motivator. It gives us a sense of purpose and a sense of urgency. It's a wakeup call. It incites us to focus on what is important and what really matters. It's a constant reminder of how precious and important life is.

To be truly effective, the awareness of the fact that we have been given a limited existence has to be exercised with balance. If that awareness becomes excessive it may create a paralyzing obsession. On the other hand, if completely ignored, it could lead to a purposeless existence.

Chances are that there is little that we can do to extend the time that is given us except to follow the sensible rules that we all know regarding personal health care. However, even if there is little that we can do to expand the time that we have been allotted, there is much that we can do to fill that time with more life.

Intensive living is the result of passion. The kind of passion that can be found while pursing goals and objectives that are larger and bigger than we are - through goals and objectives that will demand complete involvement and complete dedication.

The kind of passion that feeds the thirst for knowledge and discoveries. The passion for self-discovery and self-actualization. The passion for life and everything in it. The kind of passion that is felt when we are involved in something that matters, is important, vital and essential.

Passion is the fuel that generates energy, flames the imagination, opens doors and bolsters courage. It is what gets us up early in the morning and keeps the flame burning until late in the night. Passion equates vitality and confidence as it creates the charismatic aura essential to success. With enough passion, almost anything is possible. Without it, everything is an uphill battle.

The kind of passion that we are talking about here is closely associated with caring. It's caring enough about who we are to understand that we were placed on Planet Earth for a mission. It's caring enough about ourselves to have a sense of purpose and destiny. It's caring enough about ourselves to realize that we count and that we matter. In one word, it's caring enough to see the grandeur of man and to live up to that vision.

Our time on Planet Earth is limited. We can use this fact as a reminder that time is precious and should be used judiciously. Seen in that light, it becomes a source of inspiration and a great motivator. The gift of life is the greatest there is. Let's make the most of it while we still can.

Dr. Raymond Comeau aka Shamou is the Author of ShamouBlog and Owner Administrator of Personal Development for Personal Success http://www.shamoublog.com/forum/index.php Forums.