Close encounters with death are the ultimate reminder that each day, each breath, is indeed a gift, a precious privilege that we must respect and protect, a reminder that each moment is an opportunity to express the qualities we are worthy and responsible for living, qualities of courage, curiosity, compassion, kindness, and creativity; qualities of strength, intelligence, peace, love, and humility.
This isn’t an opportunity we can waste. It’s not something we can put aside until we have more time. We must use this moment to live with zest, with vigor, and with veracious valor. We must use this moment to express what it means to be a living breathing human being. We must use this moment to live fearlessly responsible for life because the next reminder we get may not leave us with another moment.
Starting with my father-in-law’s sudden death in January, I’ve had 3 people I love pass on this year. His death was the one that rocked my world, the ultimate wake-up call. And even though I thought I was living consciously his death pulled the blinders off and I saw all the areas where I was not.
It changed me, how I live my day to day life. It changed the focus of my work. His death inspired me in a way I’d never expected. And even though I miss him greatly, I am forever grateful.
This may sound inappropriately geeky, but your comment made me wonder if it was possible to have social sharing & liking for comments!
Love that idea, Ali! I know Disqus does that, but I’d like to see something that leaves the comments on the blog instead of hosting them with a 3rd party. :)
Sandi, I can absolutely relate: My grandfather died in 2009 (I wrote about it here) just before I made a big shift in my life and went to India. His passing helped me realize that “playing it safe” isn’t nearly as important as taking the risks that I know are worth taking.
I believe there are occurrences in life which make us listen, and help us to evaluate who we have become. In my own experience, it is easy to be affected by the hurt of my past, the stress of current circumstances, etc, and I can become a bit closed off, selfish, and even numb. There are some events though, that shake me, and I can no longer ignore listening to the part of me that is telling me to let go of my fears. Fear is so paralyzing that it keeps us from loving ourselves, loving others, and just living. But I think the more that we show compassion and kindness towards others, the less fear we have and the more our lives and other’s will be enriched.
I have to remind myself of these things daily. I am always learning :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. They have been an encouraging reminder.
Sarah, thank you for sharing your thoughts here.
I love what you said about allowing compassion and kindness to release the fear and enriching our lives and the lives of others. Instead of focusing on the fear and focusing on trying to remove it, we should put more energy into being compassionate, sharing, and genuinely caring for ourselves and others. In doing so, the fear will automatically be replaced with peace and a willingness to show love.
Perfectly beautiful <3
Thank you, C. Fassett. :)
Awareness of impermanence and death is our best friend. Thank you for this eloquent reminder.
Best friend indeed, Sandra. :)
Witnessing death even if not first hand even if going to funeral is a wake up call that tends to put things in perspective. But we forget and slowly and sometimes not somslowly we slip back into our routine, the trick is to remember that all of this is but a fleating moment.
So true! As I mentioned to Sandi in an earlier comment, the passing of my grandfather in 2009 helped me wake up to the reality that I needed to live my life the way I knew it should be lived. It helped me see that the risk of taking the easy path and not leaping towards my dreams was greater than the risk of leaping. Now I change my perspective by remembering things like the 17,000 children who die every day from hunger.
Wow! I just had a conversation with someone who was so full of fear and anxiety about “things” that it left me off balance. I found myself having to defend my way of living. I was given the fearful, “but you could lose all you have” (if something bad and expensive happened). Yes, I could, but if things came to that point, I could say I was happy and content with all the choices I made. Wild and free. Ahhh… I’m so glad I bookmarked your blog a few weeks back….wonderful writings! Thank you!!!!
Sue, I see that mentality all the time: It’s the scarcity, fear-based mentality. If we stop worrying so much about what might happen and instead take an active role in participating in the moment, we’ll discover that what we can accomplish in the here and now far outweighs the risk of having nothing. After all, what’s the most valuable thing we have? Our soul. And who can take that away? Nobody! We could have no money, no place to live, and no possessions to our name, but we still have our values, our principals, and our heart. We still have our life.
I try to make the best of things in this embittered world and learned that the one true and genuine “gift” I can give is all the love I can have. I got hurt countless of times before.. but I still go on, very sure that someone will care enough about this world as I do!
Being human is amazing… some times.
Well said, Kinan. Being human is amazing. :)