Its been an odd time here lately. Mentally, it’s been rather trying with an awareness of the cycle of life with the birth of 2 babies to close friends and the death of one infant and a suicide of a high school friend. It makes me aware of how I live my life, wonder about the impact I’m having on those around me and (yes, it’s all about me) the lessons learned from those around me.
I’ve developed a philosophy that may act as a substitute for organized or institutionalized religion that provides some sort of comfort to me in viewing tragic events such as a 14 month old dying because of serious immune disorder, had a rough time from birth but had a profound impact on those around him and a 42-year-old who spiraled into depression and mental illness and eventually took her own life. I believe that we learn from one another in all of our interactions that there are no coincidences and that no matter how short or long someone is in your life they can have an impact on your future. I think that many of us aren’t at all aware of our impact on others either intentional or accidental.
Live by example? Maybe. Make sure that the people who mean a great deal to you know that you love them? Always. I on occasion listen to Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac in the morning on NPR and he ends his program with “Be well, do good work and keep in touch” which is just one of the very simple ways to be mindful of your interaction with your world.
