“Sometimes you’ll hold on really hard and realize there is no choice but to let go. Acceptance is a small, quiet room,” Chery Strayed
Recently a friend of mine died as a result of a heart attack. He just celebrated his 60th birthday with his beautiful wife on a trip down to Mexico. In our final conversation we discussed our children, sports, businesses dealings, and ironically his inadequate retirement planning. We joked that he still had plenty of time to make up during the next 20 years he hoped to spend chasing his grand kids.
On the day of his passing he worked . Due to a heavy snow storm the night before he pushed snow. He was a professional landscaper – meaning in the wintertime you need to find things to do. For him he cleared parking lots and sidewalks in the early hours before the sun came up. The rest of the day I witnessed him taking care of many of the neighbors driveways on his tractor.
Later that night he suffered a heart attack – his wife tried everything should could to keep him with her. The medical professionals tried everything they could to keep him here. Despite their valiant efforts he died leaving behind the love of his life, his adult children, as well as his grandchildren. They are left to confront mankind’s oldest enemy – separation from death.
My heart breaks for them. I love that family – In all my experience in life I have nothing but positive thoughts and feelings for them. As newlyweds they brought Courtnee and I into their home for Super Bowl parties, New Years Eve celebrations, BBQ’s, etc. They have brought us meals in all of our life circumstances – babies being born, sickness, heartaches.
In my darkest moment of life I was forced to let go of someone I loved. It broke my heart – I have never fully recovered from that. I have learned to live and enjoy life with the loved ones that I have. There is joy and happiness, but there is a part of me that died that day. Time truly is the ultimate healer, but it heals much like a scar – covering up the wound, making it bearable, even unnoticeable the majority of the time – but deep down still there.
In life there are no guarantees – we all have a ticking clock. My hope if that we can be a little kinder, more patient, express love, and enjoy life to the fullest while we are here.
Chris
Well said, spoken from a deep recess in your soul. We never know when our ticket will get punched. Live like you are dying. Tim McGraw.