Life is hard. Loss is difficult. I say this because I’ve lost some super important people. One being my aunt who passed away in 2021. Oh, I know she lived a good, long life. The thing is, I miss her… a lot. Aunt Bea made my day whenever she called. I considered her a close dear friend and confidant. We both shared stories, some were funny and others were heartwarming. And there were things I would only share with her. She never failed to call on every special occasion and where she felt, we just needed to chat.
Spring of 2020, I was planning to take a cross-country trip to wine country in the Okanagan to visit with her and other family, friends, and past colleagues. Then the unimaginable occurred, and it left the world in a state of shock. Borders between provinces and countries closed. And then there were restrictions and cancellations, words not boding well when we’re lovers of freedom.
LIFE IS LIFE
The world changed and we have no choice but to adapt to these changes. It’s difficult losing someone we adored while having to deal with the loss of the way of living we knew and loved. Memories come flooding in, we may laugh and we may shed tears to grieve our loss but through it all we remain strong. We may even put ourselves through the wringer, asking ourselves why we didn’t plan the trip, make those calls earlier? Why did we wait so long? It’s always with hindsight, we realize we’ve put things off, thinking we had all the time in the world, yet, believing that it was time that escaped us. Every year we ask the same question… where did the time go? And every year it’s the same answer.
THE VALUE OF TIME AND THE PEOPLE WE SHARE IT WITH
Time didn’t go anywhere; it didn’t by some supernatural phenomena, just change. No, on the contrary, you changed, I changed, and the world we knew changed. Time forever remains the same. We get so busy, wrapped up in our own little secular world, we lose track of time, failing to see the things we need to see. One being the importance of the people that matter most.
If you get anything out of this blog post, please let it be this: Life is short. It’s too short to hold on to grudges. He said she said, he did, she didn’t do, could have should have, this can go on and on… if you let it.
Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?
Do what you can, while you can. Say it. Mean it. Do it. Do what you dream of doing. Visit with those you love, even if it’s through virtual platforms. We always say next week, next month, next year. But we may not have the chance to do what we want to do, what we need to do, because life and death can and will get in the way.
Every Man dies. Not every man really lives.
CREATE YOUR HAPPINESS
The key is to live fully, mindfully, not carelessly. Live out those dreams, and create all the happiness you can muster, while you have the time to do so. How you choose to live matters. Be up for the challenges, and go with life’s flow. The thing is, we are to relish the time and the people we share this time with, willing and ready to take a chance to live the dream. So take this new year and make it special.
Life is a song – sing it. Life is a game – play it. Life is a challenge – meet it. Life is a dream – realize it. Life is a sacrifice – offer it. Life is love – enjoy it.