Before lightning strikes

Benjamin, Marty, and Terry were standing in front of the building when I got to work the next day.  The night before Benjamin’s girlfriend had told him she was pregnant.  Marty and Terry were kidding him about getting a paternity test. Although they were joking, Benjamin seemed serious when he said he wouldn't blame her if she had cheated on him. 

As the conversation continued, I was shocked by the change in Benjamin.  Gone were the bravado, arrogance, and entitlement. He seemed scared, but happy.  He also seemed willing to face his addictions head-on. 

I thought about all the people I knew who had been shocked into making changes.  Many of them had gotten a frightening diagnosis.   A few had been fired.  Others were spurred on by the death of a loved one.  All of them would have been better off making changes before they faced a crisis.   Life could have been much simpler for Benjamin and his girlfriend if he had quit drinking and gambling the first time he went to rehab five years ago.

Today I will see what changes I’d like to make before lightning strikes.

Life on Life’s Terms II © 2015 by Ken Montrose

(Just a reminder: LOLT II is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to anyone you might know is purely coincidental.)