a very good friend to a sudden heart attack at 51, I had a cancer scare (most-likely benign, come back in six months for a retest), and my husband just had a scary seizure due to a lesion in his brain from a unexplained stroke that happened in his early 20's.
Everything seems to hit at once and I am reminded once again that we are all fragile beings with unknown but certain "die-by" dates.
So once the initial shock wears off of each new illness or emergency, I have to come to terms with my new "normal" life and go on. "Man plans, God laughs" is one of my favorite sayings and it reminds this control freak that I can't control everything. I know it is sappy, but I do think we should live each day as if it is our last. Within reason of course. ;-)
So what do I do? In my case these stressful times remind me of what is important; my loved ones. I stop worrying about my unedited pictures and movies, cluttered house, messy garage, and unfinished projects; and instead sit back and let my boys tell their long story about what they were digging up in the backyard, without interruption. I hug my husband and tell him how much he means to me, every day. I visit with my two amazing sisters and sit and chat with them, without giving any unsolicited advice. I sit and drink wine or coffee with my parents and grandmother and appreciate the time I have now and the time I have had with them. I take time to call and/or meet with my friends and family and let them know how much they mean to me.
I always feel that as an adult you need to have known grief to be able to fully experience joy. There will be other hard times, but I know there will be more joy than grief in this amazing if sometimes crazy life of mine. I am just so grateful that I am right here, right now, and able to enjoy my life with the people I love most.
I promise I will be back blogging fun, normal stuff this week. And thank you so much for the support and kind comments you always send my way. I know we only know each other in this virtual world, but you help keep me grounded. This blog is my labor of love, stress-reducer, and creative outlet; and I am so grateful for you, my reader. ♥
