October 7, 2021 ~ Thursday (sunny, puffy clouds, blue skies – a rarity here)
“Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights your way.”
I have that saying written on my bedroom wall. I wake up to that every morning. It’s certainly a nice way to start my day.
Last night we had a thunderstorm!!!! I’m using a lot of exclamation points because in the seven years I’ve been here, I think we’ve had eight claps of thunder … including last night’s three! Woohoo! It was a good downpour made even better with some thunder!
However, lab Annie, didn’t think so. Apparently, she’s not a fan of thunderstorms.
I was fishing about through my online files and thought I’d share a few things today. Yesterday was a rough day. I cried all afternoon – for a “kid” I never knew and will never know. But, to me, the news “hit home” as he stood for all of our adult “kids” … our children, our nephews and nieces, our friends’ adult children. This mid 30 year old was someone my daughter knew back in her college days. He moved/life happens/blah blah blah … but they reconnected a year or so ago. He was a youth hockey coach. He owned his own construction company up in Aspen. He sounded like a nice guy.
And, after six weeks in a coma in a Denver area hospital with Covid-19 … he died.
Just like that. One week a strapping mid-30 year old good guy … and the next, unfathomable anguish and heartbreak for his family and friends and poof … he’s a memory. He was not vaccinated. And that made me think of all the “kids” his age that I know, that my kids know, that are the children of my good friends or my kids’ best friends and I collectively grieved. This age group thinks they are immune by just being who they are/how old they are. I think it’s the “I’m fine/”it” won’t happen to me.” attitude. I don’t know but it breaks my heart. Thirty year olds should not die from a virus. And yet he did … and many more have and many more will as well unless precautions are taken – masking/distancing/vaccines. Tell your friends … this could have been anyone.
I didn’t know this guy … yet his passing made me take stock and remind myself that life is fragile. It is to be treasured – every hour of every day we breathe … it’s a sacred gift. How lightly and for granted some of us take it. How arrogant we are in our assumptions that it will go on – forever. We all know that’s not true – but live like it is anyway.
So, when I was up in my office, I unearthed some past writings and here is something that kind of hit home for me … an idea for a book that I wrote eons ago …
Things I Know for Sure:
- When you think you have life all planned out … you don’t. (YOUR plan is never THE plan.)
- Life can change in an instant. (As in a nanosecond.)
- Worrying is useless. (Spend your energy on doing something about what bothers you.)
- What you think about you bring about. (“If you think you can’t – you are right.” – Henry Ford)
- Believe all things are possible. (If you don’t try – it will never happen.)
- What you send out to others will come back to you. (Good or bad. And, we all know karma’s a bitch.)
- Manners matter. Be polite. Say thank you. Help others. (It’s never wasted.)
- Smile – it increases your face value. (Even when you don’t feel like it – it’ll make you feel better and it might just make someone else’s day.)
- Be thankful for unanswered prayers. (How many times have we realized that?!)
- Wisdom doesn’t always come with age – but life. (Thank you to the 100 year olds with a lifetime of experiences and four year old cancer survivors who are wise beyond their years from what they have faced.)
- Doing good deeds makes life better. (Always.)
- Experiences are underrated. (Sometimes the only way to know is to do.)
- Love with wild abandon. (Not just baby animals and ice cream.)
- Do your best in whatever you do. (You may not win or succeed … but you’ll know you gave it your all. There is satisfaction in knowing that!)
- Donate. (Your time, efforts, possessions, money, hair … whatever! Do it!)
- Live life with intention. (We are never guaranteed a next breath.)
There is a saying, “The Past is behind us. The Future is ahead and uncertain. Today is a gift – that’s why it’s called the Present.” Cheesy – but true.
Go make today a good day – fill it with passion, purpose and intention. Sprinkle kindness and love like it was glitter – that shit gets everywhere!
This I know for sure.