I had been writing something different to post today when I got the news:
One of my husband’s high school friends passed away last Friday.
How horribly sad… my heart just aches for the loss his family is experiencing. I went to the Internet to see what the arrangements were, and was stunned.
A second classmate, in a completely separate city, also died on Friday.
It’s moments like this when your breath just catches in your chest and everything feels like it is moving slow motion and you try to wrap your head around it. How can something like this happen? Both were 40, both had kids — it’s not supposed to be like this.
But it so often is.
Life, in all of its imperfection, deals some pretty raw hands. Loved ones are taken all too soon. People sustain terrible injuries in accidents. Jobs are lost.
I don’t want to compare circumstances or say which is harder to deal with. Really, they all suck.
Rather, I just wanted to take this time to remind you to find the blessings in your life and appreciate them. It could be loved ones, the roof over your head, a working vehicle…
What are you grateful for in your life?
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Twitter: InterviewAngel
says:
Hi Melissa,
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. Life can be cruel sometimes especially for us late Gen X’ers (I’m 38).
I do count my blessings every day on the way to work, but nothing can replace time with my wife and daughters. For that, I am truly blessed.
Brent
Sorry to hear about that Melissa. I try to be grateful for the little things in life like a cup of coffee or a run in the park – and loved ones of course!
Twitter: ed_han
says:
Melissa, my condolences to your husband, that’s terrible news.
However, I definitely agree with you that tragedies can also be an opportunity to look for silver linings in the storm clouds.
Twitter: TheJobQuest
says:
Brent, Jorgen, Ed: Thank you for your kind comments.
I definitely felt a heaviness in my heart when I woke up this morning, but now I am hearing my children’s laughter as they play in the next room, and I can’t help but smile. Such a tangible reminder of the blessings in my life.
Twitter: jakelacaze
says:
I’ve been very fortunate not to have lost many people in my young life. However, during the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, a classmate of mine died in a car wreck.
Although I went to a very small school (I graduated with a class of less than 30 kids), I didn’t know her very well. But still, her death taught me a very important lesson. That incident has been a constant reminder that not only are none of us immortal, none of us are guaranteed any amount of time on this earth.
We get only one chance at this life thing, and since we don’t know how long that chance will last, we have to make the most of our opportunities.
And with so little certainty, we should always be kind.
Twitter: JulieWalraven
says:
Melissa, as others have said, my condolences to your husband and the family of his friends. It is hard to see deaths of people who we still see as full of life. Understanding the whys leaves many of us wondering.
But you are so right, we need to not take things for granted. I’m older than you so I have been thinking that way for awhile now and it actually led to many of the choices I made this year.
When premature death or even illnesses like cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s can change the quality of life, it makes one pause to think that maybe we should spend more time appreciating today!
Twitter: TheJobQuest
says:
Jake and Julie: Thank you for your words of comfort. There has been this palpable shift that I’ve been feeling today — perhaps it’s temporary due to the settling in of the reality of what’s happened, or maybe it will be more permanent.
In either case, I agree with you both about being kind and appreciating the moment. It’s something I should strive to do every day!
Twitter: citysylvester
says:
Hey Melissa, life does come at you hard sometimes. And you’re right, it’s important to remember how blessed we are. No matter how rough your life is, if you’re even able to read this comment right now; that in itself is an opportunity the majority of the world will never experience.
Twitter: TheJobQuest
says:
That is so true, City — not only from the standpoint of having access to the computer to read the comment, but being able to read at all! (I used to work in adult literacy and met many people who struggled with what we so easily take for granted.)
Thanks for your comments
find the blessings in your life and appreciate them. Yes I agree with this. Bless you.
Twitter: TheJobQuest
says:
Thank you for stopping by and for your comments. I’m glad this post struck a chord with you!