What I know for sure...
This Christmas Greeting brings a close to a year of optimism, after losing my Mom and my husband in 2005,
I have had a year to reflect on what I have learned and in keeping with my on-line sharing, as Oprah would say, this is what I know for sure...
First, death has taught me about life, I have said YES to life this year,
I did not put off getting on a plane and visiting those I love, instead I said YES, no more excuses, so little time.
I quit work at 5:00 because more hours wouldn’t make my business better or more prosperous; it would just make me tired.
I learned that I need help with many things around my house, especially all things mechanical and anything relating to water.
I have learned to use many of the tools in my garage, even the really cool ones with names I can’t recall. (Allan would be proud)
I have learned to sell equipment, tools and other things I absolutely knew nothing about; I could probably get a job at Home Depot.
I have learned the world is paved with good intentions and that family always prevails.
I have learned to play the hand I was dealt with dignity and grace, which is advice from a very wise sage – my Dad.
I learned that other people aren’t comfortable talking about death and those that have passed, I’ve also learned people aren’t comfortable talking about life either, and what living a meaningful life is all about. Do we not know? If we do, why don’t we do it? Do we have courage to say YES more often? I have friends who had the courage to run for political office this year, now that’s really saying YES to a calling in life, regardless of the outcome.
I learned that the heartache of loss does not get easier with time, rather time has enabled me to regroup, recharge and remain steadfast in my belief that maybe it will get easier.
I learned about regrets, we know in our minds we don’t have forever, we also know we can’t do it all. But intellect does not inform matters of the heart. Regrets are of the heart; we want more time and the chance to always do it better. I have learned regrets belong to the past and death has a way of giving regrets more attention than they deserve.
And lastly I know for sure that death has taught me about life - and the hardest thing I’ve learned about love is loss. God wants us to be happy and live our lives filled with joy. So I challenge you to find ways in which to bring more joy into your lives, and do things that are more meaningful. You see, you won’t be remembered for how hard you worked, or how much money you made,
this I know for sure… JoAnne