An old friend passed last month. Another last week. A third is (essentially) in Hospice. What do they all have in common? They knew/know death was/is near and have all made and are making arrangements, changes in their lives and doing their best to HAVE NO REGRETS. The time was/is there for them to make things more comfortable for loved ones, or to make amends with people.
Do not regret not telling someone you love them.
Do not regret passing by someone who really needs your help. Even if you don't know them.
Do not regret staying in a job that takes your happiness. Money is nothing if you're not happy.
Do not regret never doing something you always wanted to do. (a pottery class, graduate school, skydiving..)
Have no regrets in life. If you have them now, make them right. Look forward and make changes in your life if you need to.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
HAVE NO REGRETS
An old friend passed last month. Another last week. A third is (essentially) in Hospice. What do they all have in common? They knew/know death was/is near and have all made and are making arrangements, changes in their lives and doing their best to HAVE NO REGRETS. The time was/is there for them to make things more comfortable for loved ones, or to make amends with people.
Do not regret not telling someone you love them.
Do not regret passing by someone who really needs your help. Even if you don't know them.
Do not regret staying in a job that takes your happiness. Money is nothing if you're not happy.
Do not regret never doing something you always wanted to do. (a pottery class, graduate school, skydiving..)
Have no regrets in life. If you have them now, make them right. Look forward and make changes in your life if you need to.
Do not regret not telling someone you love them.
Do not regret passing by someone who really needs your help. Even if you don't know them.
Do not regret staying in a job that takes your happiness. Money is nothing if you're not happy.
Do not regret never doing something you always wanted to do. (a pottery class, graduate school, skydiving..)
Have no regrets in life. If you have them now, make them right. Look forward and make changes in your life if you need to.
Monday, May 2, 2011
DEATH
Death seems to be quite rampant around me lately. I'm not afraid of it, it is what it is. It does make me sad to watch people suffer, and for children to be a part of it. As I told my new friend Lou last week, we are all dying, the difference being that those with a chronic illness may have a better idea of what it is that will take their life. My day may be next week for all we know. Hopefully it is not. But I will do my best to live every day like it may be next week.
The news about Bin Laden this morning gave me a strange sense, immediately. Did I want him to take any more lives? No. Do I find it odd that he murdered many, many people, but the news this morning was that He Was Dead. I didn't hear anyone on the radio say that Bin Laden had been murdered or killed, but just that he was dead. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm glad he can't do any more harm, but I am still a bit uneasy with this story. Why? Why does something about this just sit wrong with me?
Once I was asked if I would ever have a gun in my house, and would I rather shoot someone or be shot. I'm posting this as a rhetorical question. Many have a quick answer to this. Others do not.
The news about Bin Laden this morning gave me a strange sense, immediately. Did I want him to take any more lives? No. Do I find it odd that he murdered many, many people, but the news this morning was that He Was Dead. I didn't hear anyone on the radio say that Bin Laden had been murdered or killed, but just that he was dead. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm glad he can't do any more harm, but I am still a bit uneasy with this story. Why? Why does something about this just sit wrong with me?
Once I was asked if I would ever have a gun in my house, and would I rather shoot someone or be shot. I'm posting this as a rhetorical question. Many have a quick answer to this. Others do not.
DEATH
Death seems to be quite rampant around me lately. I'm not afraid of it, it is what it is. It does make me sad to watch people suffer, and for children to be a part of it. As I told my new friend Lou last week, we are all dying, the difference being that those with a chronic illness may have a better idea of what it is that will take their life. My day may be next week for all we know. Hopefully it is not. But I will do my best to live every day like it may be next week.
The news about Bin Laden this morning gave me a strange sense, immediately. Did I want him to take any more lives? No. Do I find it odd that he murdered many, many people, but the news this morning was that He Was Dead. I didn't hear anyone on the radio say that Bin Laden had been murdered or killed, but just that he was dead. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm glad he can't do any more harm, but I am still a bit uneasy with this story. Why? Why does something about this just sit wrong with me?
Once I was asked if I would ever have a gun in my house, and would I rather shoot someone or be shot. I'm posting this as a rhetorical question. Many have a quick answer to this. Others do not.
The news about Bin Laden this morning gave me a strange sense, immediately. Did I want him to take any more lives? No. Do I find it odd that he murdered many, many people, but the news this morning was that He Was Dead. I didn't hear anyone on the radio say that Bin Laden had been murdered or killed, but just that he was dead. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm glad he can't do any more harm, but I am still a bit uneasy with this story. Why? Why does something about this just sit wrong with me?
Once I was asked if I would ever have a gun in my house, and would I rather shoot someone or be shot. I'm posting this as a rhetorical question. Many have a quick answer to this. Others do not.
Can't Think of a Title
So one of the strongest forces in my life, who taught a class on How to Live, who showed me how to appreciate the bugs on the flowers, how to walk backwards with a mirror so that you only see what is in the mirror (focus and attention), how to meditate about my own funeral so that when the time comes, there are no surprises, and many, many other amazing life experiences, has passed. Sharon, thankfully we had time and I was able to tell you and show you many times how much I appreciated your presence in my life. You showed me a great light in my darkness.
Last Thursday I was given the gift of a meditation class during work hours. (Jenny, you really are amazing.) What this class did for me was make me cry almost immediately. Here's the story.
A week ago I met Lou. He is a man from my church whom I had never met before last Friday. He has lung cancer and pneumonia and needed some meals. I brought him some soup and a few other edibles. I've either visited with him or talked to him on the phone every day since then. I've sat with him a number of times to cheer him up and give him hope and my kids, I hope, have also helped with that. I told him about Sharon, and he said he'd heard of her but wasn't sure if he had met her. I told him it would be great for the two of them to talk, but I knew she wasn't doing very well. I sent her an email about him, knowing there might not be a response. Then she passed. On Friday I was at Lou's house and he asked me what was going on with Sharon. I told him she passed and he said he felt like something had happened the day before. Wow.
So back to the meditation- what came out of this amazing hour was tears, because what I realized during this intentional time is that I am trying to be for Lou what Sharon was for me. A great light in his darkness. Wow again.
A common friend told me last night that I have changed his life. I know he's changed mine. Thanks for letting me in your life, Lou.
Peace to all who suffer.
Last Thursday I was given the gift of a meditation class during work hours. (Jenny, you really are amazing.) What this class did for me was make me cry almost immediately. Here's the story.
A week ago I met Lou. He is a man from my church whom I had never met before last Friday. He has lung cancer and pneumonia and needed some meals. I brought him some soup and a few other edibles. I've either visited with him or talked to him on the phone every day since then. I've sat with him a number of times to cheer him up and give him hope and my kids, I hope, have also helped with that. I told him about Sharon, and he said he'd heard of her but wasn't sure if he had met her. I told him it would be great for the two of them to talk, but I knew she wasn't doing very well. I sent her an email about him, knowing there might not be a response. Then she passed. On Friday I was at Lou's house and he asked me what was going on with Sharon. I told him she passed and he said he felt like something had happened the day before. Wow.
So back to the meditation- what came out of this amazing hour was tears, because what I realized during this intentional time is that I am trying to be for Lou what Sharon was for me. A great light in his darkness. Wow again.
A common friend told me last night that I have changed his life. I know he's changed mine. Thanks for letting me in your life, Lou.
Peace to all who suffer.
Can't Think of a Title
So one of the strongest forces in my life, who taught a class on How to Live, who showed me how to appreciate the bugs on the flowers, how to walk backwards with a mirror so that you only see what is in the mirror (focus and attention), how to meditate about my own funeral so that when the time comes, there are no surprises, and many, many other amazing life experiences, has passed. Sharon, thankfully we had time and I was able to tell you and show you many times how much I appreciated your presence in my life. You showed me a great light in my darkness.
Last Thursday I was given the gift of a meditation class during work hours. (Jenny, you really are amazing.) What this class did for me was make me cry almost immediately. Here's the story.
A week ago I met Lou. He is a man from my church whom I had never met before last Friday. He has lung cancer and pneumonia and needed some meals. I brought him some soup and a few other edibles. I've either visited with him or talked to him on the phone every day since then. I've sat with him a number of times to cheer him up and give him hope and my kids, I hope, have also helped with that. I told him about Sharon, and he said he'd heard of her but wasn't sure if he had met her. I told him it would be great for the two of them to talk, but I knew she wasn't doing very well. I sent her an email about him, knowing there might not be a response. Then she passed. On Friday I was at Lou's house and he asked me what was going on with Sharon. I told him she passed and he said he felt like something had happened the day before. Wow.
So back to the meditation- what came out of this amazing hour was tears, because what I realized during this intentional time is that I am trying to be for Lou what Sharon was for me. A great light in his darkness. Wow again.
A common friend told me last night that I have changed his life. I know he's changed mine. Thanks for letting me in your life, Lou.
Peace to all who suffer.
Last Thursday I was given the gift of a meditation class during work hours. (Jenny, you really are amazing.) What this class did for me was make me cry almost immediately. Here's the story.
A week ago I met Lou. He is a man from my church whom I had never met before last Friday. He has lung cancer and pneumonia and needed some meals. I brought him some soup and a few other edibles. I've either visited with him or talked to him on the phone every day since then. I've sat with him a number of times to cheer him up and give him hope and my kids, I hope, have also helped with that. I told him about Sharon, and he said he'd heard of her but wasn't sure if he had met her. I told him it would be great for the two of them to talk, but I knew she wasn't doing very well. I sent her an email about him, knowing there might not be a response. Then she passed. On Friday I was at Lou's house and he asked me what was going on with Sharon. I told him she passed and he said he felt like something had happened the day before. Wow.
So back to the meditation- what came out of this amazing hour was tears, because what I realized during this intentional time is that I am trying to be for Lou what Sharon was for me. A great light in his darkness. Wow again.
A common friend told me last night that I have changed his life. I know he's changed mine. Thanks for letting me in your life, Lou.
Peace to all who suffer.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
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