WOW.
That’s my new word this week. It seems to fall out of my mouth with increasing regularity as I live my life more wide awake and on fire with inspiration each passing day.
Wow, I’m so utterly speechless and touched by all the people who came and offered their support to our family as my brother-in-law Andrew celebrated his final days here on earth and made his journey to Heaven last week. Wow…the way the service men in the Air Force came to honor him with the flag-folding ceremony and Taps for his service as a Captain in the Air Force made me so proud to be an American, (it was coincidently July 3rd) that I thought my heart would fall right out of my chest. I still, a week later, am getting teary-eyed just thinking about it with gratitude for all of our service men and women.
Wow. My family and I have amazing friends. And we have each other. We are a great family and I don’t take that for granted. The death of a loved one is always tragic. But it is also a time when the truly important things in life come into crystal clear focus and the people around you step up and show you who they really are in your life. True friends come out of the woodwork to be there for you, to offer support, to give a helping hand, or even an ear to be heard or a shoulder to cry on. We had so much support and kindness, especially my sister’s friends, (some of them in the picture)that I am still thinking about it. How special a gift it is to have life-long friends. The level of gratitude and amazement for these wonderful people heals the pain like a loving ointment and soothes the soul back to the land of the living.
We are so blessed to have you all in our lives. Thank you just doesn’t seem to be a big enough word.
Being intimate with death again brings back the reminder of how fragile and temporary- and short- our time here actually is. It renews my resolve to live Wide Awake and Inspired and to remember that every day is a precious gift, one not to be squandered away or taken for granted.
My brother-in-law Andy suffered from a serious illness. He was in the late stages and it was difficult for him to speak or walk or get around. Yet, every single day he managed to find joy and happiness and to share that joy with the people around him. His courageous life inspired his friends and family to make the best of each day and the moments that we have.
He left an amazing legacy of joy and happiness for us to follow.
He was a real example of a Life Lived Inspired. Wow. I hope I can live mine half as well.
