Counselors and meditation teachers Stephen and Ondrea Levine write about Living the Life You Wish to Live in the Tricycle, the Buddhist magazine (Spring 2009,)

Be mindful. Be loving. Practice forgiveness.

Don’t put off anything. Any dream you have, anything that you have always wanted to do – do it. I can’t tell you how many doctors have said to me, “Stop thinking about it.” Of course I can’t stop. The mind is going to think, “I am going to die.” But when those thoughts come up, we can go to the body, go to the sensation – breathe in and out of the heart.

We are all going to go through a lot. If you think you are going to die with angels around, God bless. But if you have one good friend who can be with you, that is a true blessing. We have heard of so many people dying alone.

Follow your heart and be as present as you can. Don’t think that life is going to happen when you retire. Live your life now. Enjoy it now. You know that wonderful line from John Lennon: Life is what’s happening while we’re busy making other plans. Don’t wait to live your life.

Buddha said that we could look the whole world over and never find anyone more deserving of love than ourselves. That is what we should be working with. There is no one more deserving of love than you.