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Living life with a sense of urgency Susanne Severeid Monday Feb 6, 2017 at 6:55 PM Feb 6, 2017 at 6:55 PM By Susanne Severeid For the Tidings I just got a call that a friend of mine has cancer. It came as a shock and, after I hung up, I leaned back in my chair and thought: Carpe diem. I find myself scrapping what I had planned to write about the Southern Oregon Women’s March and what an empowering morning that was — a sea of pink hats and thousands of people of all ages, slowly weaving their way down Ashland’s Main Street to Lithia Park. Signs with slogans reading, “We Shall Overcomb,” “You Can’t Grab Our Rights Either,” “Nasty Women Unite,” “Without Hermione Harry would have died in Book One!” and “Thanks Trump, You turned me into an Activist!” Or the Orwellian language we are being subjected to (“Alternative Facts”), the chilling pronouncement of a “running war” with the media, and the storm of executive orders that have sent heads spinning. Maybe it is time to no longer be surprised by any of this. After all, no secret was made during the campaign of either the beliefs or behavior of the candidate. Is it time to set aside the shock and move toward action with a firm grasp of the reality of where we now stand? It is not an overstatement to say that our democracy is at stake if we do not. The highest office in this great land of ours is not intended to be a bully pulpit, nor can it be treated as just another episode in some tacky reality show. Marching in the streets as with the Women’s March on Day One is almost certainly the first step of many to come. We are not subjects under a dictatorship and our media has the right — no, the obligation — to hold our elected officials and their representatives (including press secretaries) accountable for their statements. And we expect them to tell us the truth and to be honorable in their actions. We are at a crossroads in American history, and we will be judged in the years to come for where we choose to stand. We will, I have no doubt, be explaining this period of upheaval that has turned our democracy on its head to our grandchildren, and they will justifiably wonder, “And what did you do?” In the words of Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) during the recent confirmation hearings: “Actions speak louder than words … Every time we go down that path to target a minority group, history proves us to be very, very wrong. American Indians, slavery, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Japanese American internment. If we don’t stand up to this executive order on immigration now, we will be complicit in what follows.” But, I digress. I was thinking about how cancer can change things, and carpe diem (seize the day), and making the most of the time we have. Right now. This moment. And, though it may often seem that we are powerless to do the big things or to influence major decisions, I believe that whatever we do sends out ripples and has an effect, often in ways we cannot see. The smallest gesture or statement can sometimes have a profound impact. Educating ourselves on issues and then taking even a simple action can make a difference. I remember a hospice nurse asking my late husband and I at our very first meeting (and that now seems like an ocean away after all that has since come to pass), “What would you do if you were told you had only five weeks to live?” I laughed, somewhat nervously, but it provoked a deeper awareness for both of us and changed the course of some of our actions. What if you did have just five weeks? That impetus can give us a sense of urgency and courage with which to move forward. It is a question I keep in the forefront of my mind, and it helps guide me on a daily basis. What is truly important for me to be doing? What do I want to “march” for in the time that I have? Today, while I can walk with ease, type with ease on my laptop, and remember with ease? Who do I love and have I told them so today? What is meaningful for me to get done today, while I have the chance? What am I willing to fight for? And, finally, am I wringing every last drop out of this precious day that I have been given? Am I? Are you? — Award-winning author, TV presenter and world traveler Susanne Severeid is an Ashland resident who enjoys making time for the important things in life — including mocha. Read more of her columns at bit.ly/adtssmm. For more, go to www.susannesevereid.com. Email her at [email protected].