Quickly

Life is like a mist in the wind. It is fragile and can disappear quickly. Even though we know this, I at least, attempt to avoid thinking about it. Even acknowledging it. As though just the fact of admitting that life is temporary will make it end more quickly. And then there are times in our lives where you are forced to face the thing that you attempt to ignore.

When an acquaintance is suddenly and without warning gone. It is like the puff of smoke after you blow out a candle. You see it one moment and the next it has faded away so quickly you wonder if you ever really saw it at all.

Then you are forced to turn and look squarely at the fact that it is true – life is fleeting. It is there and then it is gone. And for the most part you are not able to predict when.

I think it is what you do in those moments and the time that comes after that matters. You want to reach out and comfort those that are hurting the most from this loss. And then what? Do you continue to race away from the fact that you have just had to face?

I hope that I can do better then that. That I will keep this truth close. And it will motivate me to do more with the time that I have. To spend more time deliberately  showing my wife how much I love her and what she means to me. To hug my kids more. To encourage them to use their massive skill set that they have been given to create, to soar, and to be then greatest them that they can. And to take a  deep breath more often and look for ways to help rather then rush on by.

My heart aches for those who are hurting. May we all hug a little more. Share our stories. And share our lives. Reach out. There are others here who will help you.
Life is short. And I will not run from that fact any more.