·HelenKeller·
Allofushavereadthrillingstoriesinwhichtheherohadonlyalimitedandspecifiedtimetolive.Sometimesitwasaslongasayear，sometimesasshortastwenty-fourhours，butalwayswewereinterestedindiscoveringjusthowthedoomedmanchosetospendhislastyearsorhislasthours.Ispeak，ofcourse，offreemenwhohaveachoice，notcondemnedcriminalswhosesphereofactivitiesisstrictlylimited.
Suchstoriessetupthinking，wonderingwhatweshoulddoundersimilarcircumstances.Whatassociationsshouldwecrowdintothoselasthoursasmortalbeings?Whathappinessshouldwefindinreviewingthepast，whatregrets?
SometimesIhavethoughtitwouldbeanexcellentruletoliveeachdayasifweshoulddietomorrow.Suchanattitudewouldemphasizesharplythevaluesoflife.Weshouldliveeachdaywithagentleness，avigor，andakeennessofappreciationonwhichareoftenlostwhentimesstretchesbeforeusintheconstantpanoramaofmoredaysandmonthsandyearstocome.Therearethose，ofcourse，whowouldadopttheepicureanmottoof“eat，drink，andbemerry，”mostpeoplewouldbechastenedbythecertaintyofimpendingdeath.
Mostofustakelifeforgranted.Weknowthatonedaywemustdie，butusuallywepicturethatdayasfarinthefuture，whenweareinbuoyanthealth，deathisallbutunimaginable.Weseldomthinkofit.Thedaysstretchoutinanendlessvista.Sowegoaboutourpettytasks，hardlyawareofourlistlessattitudetowardslife.