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It’s been an emotional week of loss. Not personal as in family or friends but rather co-workers and acquaintances. A young boy killed in a freak accident. A man in his prime met with foul play. A man lost his battle with age. It drives home how unpredictable this thing called life is.
Had that boy’s mum been frustrated with him that morning? Or had they laughed, enjoying each other?
Had that husband kissed his wife good-bye? Or had he rushed out the door, late for his business meeting?
Had that father said and done everything he wanted to? Or had he passed with regrets, things left unsaid?
I’m human. I admit to frustrating mornings with the wee beasties, like yesterday when #3 “couldn’t find anything to wear.” My heart lodges in my throat when I think, what if that frustration was my last interaction with him. How could yesterday have been better?
That Man is in the middle of his crazy busy season. We’re two ships passing in the wee hours. I admit to running out the door without a good-bye kiss. What would our last interaction be? A text?
We get so caught up in the day-to-day that we forget to live. Or we’re so busy living that we forget to stop and appreciate the people in our lives.
I’m scheduling living in my life. I’m making a date with my boys for one-on-one time. I’m committing to telling them I love them every day, no matter how crazy that day is. And I’m paying it forward.
What do you do to live each day like it’s the last?
Those are some sad situations that occorred and the scenarios you present are thought-provoking. I’ve started making it a habit of being more open to my daughter’s affections. She seems to love hugging on me right in the middle of a writing spree, paying bills, reviewing my marketing or checking e-mails. But I’m learing to be more open because nothing in life is guaranteed, other than our beginning and an end.
I am doing the paying it forward at random. A couple of days back, I had the honor of a soldier waiting in line behind me. I struck up a quick convo about his stop at the convenience store. He mentioned he was there to support his bad habit (chewing tobacco). I asked the clerk to get his stuff then had her add it to my bill. It surprised him and made my heart feel a spark of joy of doing something nice for someone else – with NO desire or expectation of anything in return. Karma was kind. She made sure that after I left the convenience store, I got the best parking spot at work lol!
A quick hug from a kiddo is the best hug on the planet.
Nice random act of kindness Angela. Thanks for sharing.
Powerful post. It’s something I think about more and more often, especially recently after Greg gave me a health scare.
None of us know how long we have. As much as I’d love to leave this world in a better place than when I entered it, I know my real desires are much more personal. Work, writing, design–.none of it is as important as spending time with those you love.
We may never cross that path again so it’s important to embrace what we’d miss most while we can.
Oh yeah, a health scare would do it.
You summed my feelings up nicely 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Maria.
Good reminder. I think I’ll send Mr. Wyrm a “xoxo” note now…
Nice. In fact, I’m gonna send That Man one right now too.