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A few months back, I attended a funeral for a friend of the family. She died of cancer at the age of 65.
I was amazed by the amount of people at the service. I would be underestimating if I said that there were just a couple of hundred people in attendance. The words spoken by the officiant were expected considering he did not know the deceased, but I was struck by the eulogy given by her two “best friends”.
They spoke about her generosity, her contagious laughter, her love of martinis; they shared stories of mischief and mayhem, and of course, their friendship.
And although I did not know her very well, the words spoken about her made me want to live a fuller, kinder life.
As morbid as it sounds, I find that I am periodically drawn to reading the obituary section of the newspaper. I’m always interested in what is said about people by their loved ones. How they lived their lives, their accomplishments, qualities they possessed, attributes of their character, the legacy that they left behind.
I’m also sad or dismayed when I see just a few words about a person’s life such as:
John Doe, father, worked at AMCE Inc. Born August 1, 1934 – Died April 5, 2011.
Was that all to the person’s life? Wasn’t there more to be said about who they were or what they did in their lifetime? And more importantly, what type of impact they had on others?
I’m constantly reminded of the fact that our existence is finite. This is more poignant when I see my children. Their innocence and love for life is so refreshing. It humbles me. Yet, they too will grow older and face decisions on how they live their lives and who they will become.
Granted, we all make mistakes in life, but most of us really want to be remembered for the good things that we did and left behind. Personally, I strive to leave a positive legacy that will not only influence my daughters, but their children as well.
In life, it’s important to have a small rearview mirror and a bigger windshield to see what lies ahead.
Some people have tendency to get so trapped in the past: past mistakes, past successes. They become stagnant by looking in the rearview mirror of the life that they forget to look forward to see what the future holds for them. This causes them to miss out on what they can do to benefit others and this essentially cuts them off from having any opportunity to be relevant to the needs of today.
It has been said that everyone dies, but not everyone lives.
I am beginning to understand that many of life’s wonders and miracles are made up of our interactions with others whether they are big or small. We are the sum of our character and that dictates how our lives impact those around us.
I’m attracted to those people who seem to have a lust for life. My brother is one of those people. He’s happy go lucky, tempered with a kind-heartedness and outgoingness that people flock to. Thinking about him makes me want to be a better person and when we hang out together, I am.
Wouldn’t it be excellent if that could be said of you?
The influence of others in your life has such a weight and profound impact, that often times we don’t realize it until it’s too late
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As life passes us by and the days turn to months, the months turn to years and years to decades, all of life’s accomplishments and hardships will seem so miniscule in light of the big picture. The big picture being what really did you do while you were here? Did you make a difference?
I don’t mean to be morose, but I think everyone’s life warrants reflection and consideration.
Life takes courage and strength to live. Becoming a part of other’s lives takes selflessness that can only be expressed in one manner: time.
If you are wondering where, when and whom you should start sharing life with, the answer is simple – At home, at work, on the street, at the marketplace, now and with everyone you come into contact with, especially your loved ones.
Sometimes, I find myself just staring at the sky, admiring creation and all its beauty and I find myself asking, “In light of all nature’s grandeur, do I really make a difference in people’s lives?”
Then I hear my daughters’ laughter and the answer is so obvious…I do.
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Photo courtesy Pixabay.