I am continuously reminded of how short life is. There have been more and more "reminders." Some gentle, some not so gentle. Maybe it's my age...or maybe just a streak of "life"....or maybe I'm just paying attention. Whatever it is. I. Get. It.
Through this contemplative process (that sounds so mature)--strike that. Through this growth process...nah too clinical--strike that. Through this series of sucky life lessons of death, sickness, and heartbreak, I'm trying to learn that we pick who we want to spend our days with, what we are doing on those days, and the memories that we make for those days.
Author Elizabeth Gilbert made a brave move this week. It took, however, Gilbert's dear friend (and now professed life partner) to become ill for Gilbert to reevaluate life, and how they wanted to spend their remaining days. While nobody is "lucky" when they are faced with cancer, disease, death, or tragedy, sometimes, it is just the wake up call we need to realize that some things matter. And many things don't.
For many of us, we spend a lot of our life at a job. Sometimes that job is fulfilling. Sometimes it is not. But, for many of us, we have to work. It's a fact. We may (or may not) have the luxury of doing something else because of timing, location, or circumstance. What we do have, however, is the opportunity to make the best out of our work...and enjoy our time away even more.
I'm trying to learn this lesson without the eminent tragedy piece staring at me in the face. The fact, however, is that none of us know when that tragedy will hit or if we will be given a window of "bucket list" time. How do I want to spend my time? Doing things I love while still maintaining some semblance of order for those that I love. Who do I want to spend it with? Those that I love, and that love me.
Life is too short. Sounds trite, but it's true. Spend time doing what you love and with people you love. Those people who love you and support you--and most of all don't take those people for granted. Because just as your life is short, so is theirs.