Moments lost

Part 45 in a series by Karen A. Stevenson, President, Studio K Salon

Holidays have ended, and here we sit.  Pondering the weight we’ve gained, the money we’ve spent, the bank account that is low, and nothing but dreary, cold, cloudy days of February.  Ugh.  Isn’t that the way we feel when Christmas and New Year events are over?  Tax time doesn’t seem to add any favors to the mix.  None of us relish in the thoughts of having to put all our paperwork together for Uncle Sam.  

This morning a friend emailed me a website link to a neighbor of mine.  Her name is Rebecca, and she has leukemia.  She is merely 16 years old, and has been fighting for her life for the past two years.  Out of the mouth of someone that has only been on this earth for that short period of time, she had many very mature and wise things to say.  Bottom line, she said she could be a complainer about her life, but is choosing to look at the brighter side, and the blessings she’s received thus far, and the blessings she’s apparently been able to give to others as well.  Her web site diary was suggesting how we all have a choice to look at things, and we have to put our struggles into perspective. 

During this past year, I had quite a rude awakening when not only did my own father pass away, so did my very best friend from childhood.  Grieving the loss of my father was challenging enough, but when I saw my best friend lying in her hospital bed just before this Christmas, I realized how precious life truly is.  As a general observation, it seems so many people, including myself, take life and health for granted.  Living in oblivion to the reality that on a daily basis, we have the opportunity to make a difference to our own life, our family’s life, our friends, and co-workers.  We have the choice to have a smile or a frown.  We have the ability to warmly greet someone, or to snarl as we walk past. 

Each and every day we are given the gift of waking up in the morning. We should be a slight bit more attentive to the awesome experience of life, and living.  The words out of our mouth can either be kind, courteous, and compassionate, or they can be piercing, biting, and cold.  We can have patience and kindness, or have short tempers and demean. 

My friend told me at her bedside that each morning should be praised.  She explained how short life truly is, and we surely do not have enough time on earth.   In the eight weeks from knowledge that my friend was not doing well, until her passing, she had the utmost positive attitude, still cared more about others than herself, and didn’t have a single selfish motive in her body. 

Robin passed at 48 years old. 

My teenage daughter had the experience of attending a few funerals this past year as well.  The funerals she attended were not just my father, who was her grandfather, but also her friends and acquaintances that had car accidents. One acquaintance had been killed while away at college.  Life truly is filled with twists and turns that we never expect.  No matter what age.

Selfish lack of respect for our own lives, and the blessings given to us of each day, or disregarding the reality that our time could be ‘up’ next, we should all take a long hard look at our lifestyles, our choices, and our attitudes.  Not knowing if the person that you just kissed goodbye this morning or even the stranger you passed while walking to work could be the last thing you do.  Would you change anything?   Would you say something different?  Show a kindness instead of a frown?  Would you smile instead of sneer?  Would you have a tender heart rather than a cold heart?  Would you show appreciation instead of disgust?

Being caught up in running late to work, or returning unwanted gifts.  Pinching the extra inch on our midsections or yelling at our kids.  Frustrated with the car that is broken down, or a grandmother that criticized your cooking.  Is it all worth it?  Is it worth the anger, the aggravation, the disgust, or hostility?  Is it worth the cussing, the unforgiveness, the resentment? 

Remember the words of people that do have life’s perspective a little more mature than our own.  They will tell you.  It isn’t about the negatives in life. It is about the little blessings, the simple heart felt thank you’s.  It is about the smile, the warm hug, and the recognition of a pat on the back.  It is about the precious scene of watching your children as they discover the world.  A warm puppy learning how to chew his toys.  It is about acceptance and observation.  Precious, precious life.