I've been thinking about big- picture stuff lately, which is rare for me.

It's been brought about from what I can only call a strange November, which began waiting for an addition in my extended family and ended facing the mortality of two others. And while dealing with the day- to day stuff of what that entails, you do end up a bit introspective.

Anyway, I've been thinking about about the whole life thing, and what it means to 'live' your life to the fullest. I'm not talking about making a stupid list of things to do before you die, or dropping out of society, or never saying 'no', or partying non- stop. I'm talking about getting the most out of each second that we experience- yes, even the mundane stuff- and accepting that you can do anything, even if you choose not to.

You see, as I said before, this last month has been about three people- one newborn, two diagnosed with cancer, and I have the sneaking suspicion that the baby is the only one who has lived life.

When we begin life, our potential is limitless, and the barriers begin from that moment on- how every decision that you make or is made for you adds constraints. Very few decisions bring 'freedom'- most keep doors open, but don't open them themselves.

But the world doesn't stagnate- it's us who stop living, and usually the choice is conscious until something happens and we realise we can't start to live again because we forgot how, or it's too hard, or we think we can't. Or maybe we never learned properly in the first place.

So, this is the point where I promise that I will get the most out of everything that I can, so I can look in the mirror each night and know that I have lived. Easier said than done, but I can always live in denial until I don't notice anymore.