Editorial: We have to live with our choices

When it comes to life, it would be fair to say everyone has an opinion on it, especially when it comes to what to do in life.

Recently a family member of mine was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Without giving away his identity or how serious it is, this person means a lot to me and, throughout my life, has been a huge influence and helped guide me through some of my life choices.

Now I'd like to think I'm a free spirit who has drifted through life without making a mistake or doing things I have regretted but that's simply not true. What I have learned is life is short and we really don't grasp that until something drastic happens to wake us up out of our slumber of the "she'll be right, mate" attitude.

I often lay awake at night wondering whether or not I've made the right choices in life or whether or not I'm a good person.

I guess you'd say I have a profound fear of, and grasp on, mortality. Maybe this has come from my time as an ambulance officer, seeing people make some regrettable choices in their lives - but I'm not sure.

Sadly, Hawke's Bay experienced another fatal road crash when a 19-year-old man's car went airborne and slammed into a power pole on the outskirts of Havelock North yesterday.

Road Policing Sergeant Kevin Stewart said early investigations suggested speed may have been a factor and until a post-mortem examination was done he couldn't determine if alcohol was also involved.

Whether or not those two factors are a contributor in this incident is secondary to the fact a family has lost a loved one.

The family member I mentioned earlier once told me: "Everyone makes mistakes - it's whether people learn from that mistake that makes all the difference."