Part of what makes us who we are is what we have learned and gained, and of course what we have lost. More specifically, how we handle loss helps define us. Some things are easy to overcome, and some, we never truly get over.
Today marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of my Father's passing. It was unexpected, and sudden and happened in the middle of a clear afternoon. It was a reminder that everything can be taken in a matter of minutes, and we don't know when something like that may happen.
The ironic thing is that Dad was a Cancer survivor and a Quad bypass recipient. He had just gone back to work after being bored witless during retirement. Dad was an active thinker, and as much as he loved fishing, he was the type of person that thrived on problem solving and challenges. It would be very easy for me to say how wonderful he was and that he was a great man, but he truly was a role model and someone I admired greatly. His loss was devastating for myself and our entire family.
I remember feeling very numb at the time, and often sink back into that feeling on days like today where he is in the front of my thoughts. I didn't get overly emotional, I just remember understanding what happened and accepting it. Looking back now, we were all very sad, but each of us dealt with it in our own way. Still, it left a whole in our lives that has never been close to being filled.
One might think that I tried to find a way to fill that hole, but the way I dealt with the loss was to accept it, understand it and not take things in life for granted. It's caused it's fair share of friction with people that take life a bit more for granted, but I have to try to remind myself that they haven't been through the same experience, and if they have, they handled it differently. I'm not jealous of their ability to 'live freely', I just don't want them take something for granted that may be gone as quickly as my Dad.
To those who may read this, life is short, please don't take it for granted. Experience life, enjoy the little things. Stop every once in a while to look around and appreciate how you got where you are. If you don't like where you find yourself. Remember what put you there so you don't repeat it. Life is precious. It’s a gift and it will be gone before we know it. Tell those around you that you love them, and remember why they are important to you. One day they may be gone, OR even worse, you may not be there for them.