Like all Americans, I was horrified by the terrorist bomb blast that rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon yesterday. For the victims, I...and I know all of you...offer heartfelt thoughts and sincere sympathy.
There will be many people far more informed than me who will deduce who did this, why and what can be done to make sure it does not happen again. There will be those who use this incident to try and make political points - twisting facts to fit their ideology, ignoring history to justify their beliefs and conveniently blaming someone or some group that they oppose.
But not me.
No, I have my thoughts on all that, but I will reserve judgement.
Rather, after sorrowful thoughts to those directly impacted I feel that this is just ONE MORE INCIDENT that life doles out that just reminds us that life is fragile, short and should not be taken for granted. You think you're going to run a marathon and have a great time, but a bomb goes off and kills you...or maims you.
A woman in the Seattle area drives to work one morning recently and is killed by a drunk driver who does a u-turn on the freeway and smashes into her.
Another drunk driver two weeks earlier takes out a number of pedestrians recently in the Seattle area.
My otherwise perfectly healthy aunt dies of brain cancer at a very young age.
Some people go for a hot air balloon ride in Luxor, Egypt and their balloon explodes killing them all.
A mentally ill person gets a hold of an arsenal of weapons and shoots children dead in an elementary school...or a movie theater in Denver...or at Virginia Tech...and on and on.
People...life. is. short. You think you're going to live to 90 and die peacefully in your sleep. You might. But you might not.
So, what are you to do with this knowledge? Live in fear? Tuck yourself away and live in fear? Limit your exposure?
I say no.
I say the opposite.
I say you need to live life the best you can. Do not live in fear. Do not live stupidly, but...do not live in fear. Experience the things you can and that you want to. You may have way less time on this Earth to do those things than you think.
Paint that picture. Write that short story. Ask that girl or boy on a date. Go on that trip to the place you've always wanted to go to. Take a class to learn something new. Love the person you are with as best you can. Rock out (or whatever you're into). Change your look up. Learn to play an instrument. Meet new friends. Join that sports league. RUN A MARATHON. Do not work on weekends.
All of these things and more add up to experiences and happiness...things that you cannot and should not take for granted. It could end today, or tomorrow...or in five years from now. Don't be irresponsible, but LIVE LIFE and take in what this world has to offer.
And guess what? If you are lucky and you do indeed live a long life...think how much more interesting that life will have been and the stories you can reflect on, share and pass on to your children, friends or loved ones.
People, the events of the Boston bombing are horrific. They are tragic. Those responsible need to be hunted down and brought to justice.
But, do not lose sight of the other lesson that this incident like oh so many teach us all too regularly - the spark of life can be over before you know it, so live life to the fullest while you can.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Monday, April 15, 2013
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
It's the Little Things In Life...But Also the Big Ones
I've been on the road for work a lot recently, so have not had time to post much over the past few weeks.
Unfortunately, one thing that occurred a couple weeks ago was the death of a colleague. This was a much beloved woman at the company I work for and many people were saddened by the loss - particularly given how young she was when she died.
Over the course of the funeral, reception and other informal gatherings and conversations that followed, many colleagues expressed how something like this points out how "the little things" in life matter much more than we all think. Most of us get caught up in work or personal dramas that - in the big picture of life - really don't or should not matter much when compared to the simple, easy to enjoy parts of everyday life.
Which of course is certainly true. I mean hey, think about the simple joy of just sitting in your back yard or on your balcony on a warm spring morning and looking at your flower beds. Or, how about taking a nice walk in your neighborhood or cooking a tasty meal. Or, the basic and enjoyable distraction of a good book or movie. Or, the sense of achievement felt by completing a small project around your home. The list could go on and on. These little everyday activities are, in the aggregate, a lot of the good stuff in life.
But then, in the course of these conversations about the little things following the funeral of the departed colleague it occurred to me that while little things matter...so too do the BIG things in life. I'm not talking about buying a home or getting a promotion, but more about things like the birth of a child, graduating from school, getting married (or committing to that special someone), divorce...and indeed death.
These are big, monumental happenings in life that deserve to be felt, respected and recognized. They should not be glossed over, ignored or set aside in favor of a lot of little moments. Parties need to be thrown, speeches need to be made, pictures taken, food eaten, booze drank, tears cried, friendships created (or dissolved) around such big life events.
And then finally, it occurred to me once again that both the indulgence and importance of the big milestones in life, together with the appreciation for the little everyday things in life unify to delivery an enduring and all-to-often repeated message....
...life is short, live well now, love the people in your life now, embrace the things you always have wanted to do.
After all, you never know when your time will be up. You think you do. You think you'll live to be 87 years old and die peacefully in your sleep. But you don't know. Too often in my own 42 years on the planet, people I've know or been related to have died unexpectedly and way before their time. That's all too real.
So live it up people. Be responsible, treat others well and don't hurt yourself...but live it up while you can.
Unfortunately, one thing that occurred a couple weeks ago was the death of a colleague. This was a much beloved woman at the company I work for and many people were saddened by the loss - particularly given how young she was when she died.
Over the course of the funeral, reception and other informal gatherings and conversations that followed, many colleagues expressed how something like this points out how "the little things" in life matter much more than we all think. Most of us get caught up in work or personal dramas that - in the big picture of life - really don't or should not matter much when compared to the simple, easy to enjoy parts of everyday life.
Which of course is certainly true. I mean hey, think about the simple joy of just sitting in your back yard or on your balcony on a warm spring morning and looking at your flower beds. Or, how about taking a nice walk in your neighborhood or cooking a tasty meal. Or, the basic and enjoyable distraction of a good book or movie. Or, the sense of achievement felt by completing a small project around your home. The list could go on and on. These little everyday activities are, in the aggregate, a lot of the good stuff in life.
But then, in the course of these conversations about the little things following the funeral of the departed colleague it occurred to me that while little things matter...so too do the BIG things in life. I'm not talking about buying a home or getting a promotion, but more about things like the birth of a child, graduating from school, getting married (or committing to that special someone), divorce...and indeed death.
These are big, monumental happenings in life that deserve to be felt, respected and recognized. They should not be glossed over, ignored or set aside in favor of a lot of little moments. Parties need to be thrown, speeches need to be made, pictures taken, food eaten, booze drank, tears cried, friendships created (or dissolved) around such big life events.
And then finally, it occurred to me once again that both the indulgence and importance of the big milestones in life, together with the appreciation for the little everyday things in life unify to delivery an enduring and all-to-often repeated message....
...life is short, live well now, love the people in your life now, embrace the things you always have wanted to do.
After all, you never know when your time will be up. You think you do. You think you'll live to be 87 years old and die peacefully in your sleep. But you don't know. Too often in my own 42 years on the planet, people I've know or been related to have died unexpectedly and way before their time. That's all too real.
So live it up people. Be responsible, treat others well and don't hurt yourself...but live it up while you can.
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