Stop and smell the roses.
Mark got some bad news last evening. Mark comes from a family of ten siblings. One called, the second oldest, a brother, to tell him the third oldest had a heart attack and died instantly at 6:00 pm that day. This brother was three years older than Mark and the first of his siblings to die. I have not been a part of Mark's family so any sadness I feel is for Mark. He has been handling it well, but I am certain there will be an emotional break at sometime. The call prompted Mark to bring up my mantra on life as aged people: smell the flowers, enjoy the moment, drink the wine. He said this drove that home for him.
May you all follow a similar way, living life for all it is worth.
22 comments:
I was thinking about those same things last night for some reason. Maybe because I just put down a book called When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple.
I thought of aging and life...and the things we never stop to enjoy when younger. I thought of the things that makes me content.
This is always a thought provoking subject.
I actually thought about writing about that very thing last night.
My sympathies to Mark.
So sorry to hear that.
I agree. I've always been basically a present moment person.
Appreciate everything you've got every day because this is it...this is your life...good and bad, easy and hard...it is still a gift...it is still so good to be here. Remind yourself to choose how you want to live through each day...each moment. Because we repeatedly forgot...and skim along. Smell those flowers! :)
My condolences. I've lived through the deaths of six siblings, each loss different. It's very hard on the survivors when it's sudden, but we usually think it's better to go quickly.
And yes, enjoy whatever we can find to enjoy. Even the most harrowing days, and we've all had them, have something good if we can find it.
My sympathy to Mark and to you also. Life is hard sometimes make the best of each day!
My condolences to Mark and his family and you are right that the sadness and emotional release may come later. Living each day to the fullest and as best we can is good advice.
Val, sometimes people are on the same wave length. It is thought provoking and we need, I need, to heed my own advice. What makes me content is so different from what used to. I'm not high maintenance anymore. At least I think so. You enjoy your life, despite being a caregiver. I think you have this down.
That's too bad. It's good he has you to be there for him.
I've spent a great deal of time considering my own mortality since my parent died in November. I've lost a few friends over the years, and while I don't know where we go when we die, I like to think they check in now and then.
The rose photo is beautiful, is it one you took?
Boud, I was sad when my father died and glad when my mother did. I know that sounds awful, but it's truth. Otherwise I have no family other than the son and Mark. The death of either of them would wreck me. Going through six, that's hard.
I need to remember this, that even the harrowing days have something to give. Perhaps it is that we are still alive despite it all.
Far Side, thank you. My sadness is confined to Mark. He is soldiering on, but I know he is sad.
Dorothy, most men have been trained to keep emotion hidden. I told him to feel the emotion and let it out. At some point he will.
I am feeling thankful for my life including those I love and what I love. Also for all my good people I have here. It's all a blessing to me.
Ami, I will admit he needs me. I also need him. Mortality has become clear to me when I entered this 8th decade. I'm how old?!
Yes, I took that photo years ago with my Canon DSLR. I need to start using it again, the phone is just too handy.
Rita, you were in spam. I've tended to be someone who looks ahead, which at this point I think is not the best tendency. The here and now is where I should focus. You are so right, time flies by without notice. How is it already July? I should try to pay more attention. I do love to smell the flowers
I love your mantra. Mine is "Stay curious and open to life. No matter what happens, keep learning and growing. Find what you love and find a way to share it with others." Life is short, and for us otogenarians it gets sorter every day. (I'm 84, Andy's 89.) Blogging helps a lot.
Welcome CheerfulMonk! You said it, time is not on our side, life is flying by. I left blogging for several years and came back in '22 and do really enjoy it. 84 & 89, keep on rockin'!
My condolences to your husband.
You expressed some beautiful thoughts as did your readers. I love "stay curious and open to life." I would add to keep an open heart, too.
Take Care,
Kaye
It's difficult for me to relate bc I have no siblings. Sue has lost a brother and BiL, but they were both expected, so it is a bit different. All the best to all concerned.
Kaye, your addition to CheerfulMonk's comment is a good one. I guess a benefit of not having family is I don't have to go through this. Thanks for you thoughtfulness.
My situation is the same as yours, no family other than my son. Thanks, AC.
That's got to be awful for you husband. I remember when my uncles started dying, dad was the only one to survive out of the four boys, because he had open heart surgery.
I've been smelling the wild roses everyday when I walk. It is the scent of heaven.
Healing wishes to your hubby.
Pixie, he's doing ok. He said it's not as hard as it is with people you see and interact with often. He saw this brother maybe twice a year. He knows he will break down at the funeral, and that's normal. This has made him realize this is the start of a new era. Siblings range in age from 80's to 60. This makes me feel grateful I don't have family.
Thank you, Ivy.
Post a Comment