When I heard everyone survived Flight 1549, I realized those passengers have a new lease on life. Now I do, too.

Radical Mommy: Yesterday, when I heard that US Airways Flight 1549 had crash landed into the Hudson River, I was completely freaked out. I was scared when I thought about how many people may have been hurt or killed. But as soon as I knew everyone was OK, I got jealous.

I know that might seem strange to many of you, but I was jealous because every person on that plane has been given a second chance -- in essence, a new lease on life. Just seeing the survivors' gratitude and amazement at having survived what could have, and probably should have, been a fatal accident, made me envious and sad that I don't feel the same way about my life.

It's not that I don't love my life, I do. I love my husband and son with all my heart, I adore the rest of my family and my friends equally so. The fact that I have a roof over my head and am healthy are just added bonuses to me.

Despite all of my blessings, yesterday's crash made it glaringly clear that I am missing things in my life -- things that I feel I would have effortlessly gained had I been in that plane crash yesterday.

The first thing I realized that I am missing in my life is the sheer, unadulterated joy of being alive. I don't appreciate waking up every day the way I should, I don't take the time to notice and enjoy the sights and the people around me. And I am not as grateful as I should be for having another day in this life -- a life that could be taken from me at any time.

Another thing the crash made me realize is that there are things that I want to do during my lifetime that I have pushed to the side, or put on hold, always promising myself that I'll get to them later. But if I don't do them now, I might not get a later. So I'm going to spend more time with my family, I'm going to turn off the TV and read more, and I'm going to start that book I've always wanted to write. Now, not later.

Although I wasn't on that plane yesterday, I have learned an incredibly valuable and precious lesson from it -- and I hope others will too. I am going to slow down a bit, I'm going to savor every drop of life and I'm going to say "I love you" and "thank you" more often.

I don't want to turn 70 and be filled with regrets. I want to know that I lived life to the fullest, that I grabbed it by the horns and rode it for dear life. I want to live life like today is the last day ... after all, there may be no tomorrow.