Challenging Times

Tomorrow I'm going to the funeral of a friend who died on the way to another friends funeral a couple of weeks ago.  If it wasn't so tragic, it'd be funny!  It's also slightly ironic to me that many people go on about how dangerous riding motorcycles is, yet neither died on bikes although they were both bikers.  One was killed by a van when out for a walk, and the other died of a massive brain haemorrhage.  OK, so the second was riding a bike at the time, and that had nothing to do with it.  She was 38.

So, I've had a rather challenging time of it over the last few weeks.  I've been in and out of the various "stages" of grief: I've been upset, sad, angry and generally p'ed off, and the emotions are still cycling around.  I've been rushed off my feet as a customer's server came out in sympathy and died, so I've been working till silly o'clock to get them set up with a new one.  I've also taken some time to stop and think about what's really important in my life and how I live it.  I've come to the following conclusions, none of which are original, they've all been said many times before, and they bear saying again:

Life is not a dress rehearsal: live each day like you mean it!
When you look back over your life, don't do it with regrets and "what ifs", do it with a great big, "Yeah, I was there, grabbed life by the throat and shook it!  Woo-hoo - what a ride!".
Tell the people that you love that you love them - you will never regret the times you did, only the times you didn't.
Ditto with hugs: hug lots, and hug like you really mean it.
When people are grieving, even if you don't know what to say, tell them.  Give them a big hug, make them a cup of tea, just let them know that you're there and that you care.
It's OK to have emotions: cry if you want to; scream, holler and shout; beat up the odd pillow; let the emotions out, don't bottle them up inside.  Of course, there's a time and a place if you can manage it...  Then pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and live life with joy and gratitude.

To absent friends.

Comments

[Karen]

absolutely, my sentiments in life.... I do every day......
to all our absent friends....