But I want to live -- welcoming the fresh air of hope

You're 20 years old. You are 70 years old. Or maybe you're 100. But, whether you're living is up to you. That may sound strange, but there is more to living than breathing, walking, talking, eating and sleeping. Living is what you do, or you don't do, with the life you've been given. As I have said before in my writings, you can be alive at 100 or you can be dead at 20 or younger.

Jesus puts a different connotation on being alive or dead when He says in Matthew 8:22, "Let the dead bury their dead, and you come and preach the Kingdom of God." Although Jesus is speaking about spiritual life and death, the same perspective can be applied to what you do with your life. Jesus wasn't talking about those who were psychically dead or alive, but those who either knew nothing or little about spirituality, or those who did not care to endorse it.

It is a waste of your life when you choose to complain and fret about what happens. It is also sad when you can find little to be joyful about. Many seem to be unable to find anything that interests them. Others see such little reason for living a happy and productive life that they choose suicide as a way to end it all.

Sam is a child who says he hates school. He is interested in little except watching television and playing video games -- perhaps playing with his friends. But he acts as if nothing is fun, or joyful or worthwhile. Many adults face the day with the same attitude. They fail to see what they can contribute to make the world a better place when they leave it.

They can't recognize that they can taste a good meal, visit with friends and feel good physically. They are not truly living. In fact they are experiencing a slow death.

Then there are those who may not be young in years who yearn to live. Elizabeth has stage-four cancer. Her chemotherapy is so tough she can scarcely endure it. In fact, she dreads facing it each week. However, Elizabeth has a daughter she wants to be available for, and see reach adulthood and beyond, so she suffers through the weekly treatments. Her reason, "I want to live."

Even with her weakened condition, she participates as much as possible in her daughter's life. Elizabeth refuses to give up, and her condition does seem to be improving.

There are so many who genuinely want "to live." They want to reach a goal, love other people and be a part of what goes on around them. Dying is much more than a psychical condition. It can be a loss of desire for the things that living consists of. You see no reason to get out of bed in the morning. Nothing or little matters to you. You can act and feel like you perceive a very old and decrepit person would be. The physically old and decrepit person may be so young at heart, in mind and spirit, that they feel and give the appearance of youth. So, you see, you determine when you will die mentally and socially, unless you're the victim of a debilitating disease.

Make up your mind to seek only the positive, speak what's positive and look toward the future with a positive attitude. Your thoughts are living, so watch what you think. Push the bad out of your mind and let the fresh air of hope into the windows of your mind.

Be one who truly lives, in every area, as long as he breathes and is able. Be someone others like to be around. Encourage that person who's feeling sad and lonely. You can do it, and you can make a difference. Do what you want to do that is progressive and life-giving, and stay alive within yourself, mentally and spiritually. Then you will genuinely live.