I heard a story from a friend about a young girl who is very ill from cancer (terminally so). As I listened to the story, I started to cry. I said out loud, “why her?” A friend said, “It just goes so fast.” I’ve been thinking about our discussion for the last few days.
When I was a 12, my “boyfriend” (who was also 12) was hit and killed by a drunk driver as he walked home from school. I remember almost an out-of-body experience when I heard about it. I’d just talked with him that day and now he was gone. I wondered about his mother and how she was doing. When I saw her at the funeral I realized that her life had ended – not literally – but from that point forward, there would clearly always be a before and an after.
Last year at dinner one of the kids asked what it was like to be almost 50. I paused for a minute and then said that when I was their age, I never thought about being a mom or wife. I just felt so young and saw everything in front of me … there seemed to be no hindrances. But, everything changed after having kids – a before and an after. After seemed to move faster. I tried to tell this to the kids but I could see the glazed look on their faces. I just plant the seeds. They are still beautifully young.
It seems like yesterday that my kids would sit on my lap and let me hold their small fat hands. Soon my daughter will be driving and off to college. My boys are becoming such nice young men. It’s fast … too fast.
Look, my mom died at 59. That’s 9 years away from my current age. I try not to waste time being scared but sometimes I can’t help myself. Yet, this poor young woman may not live to see the age of 16 and her mom will have a before and an after. My heart is breaking for her.
Life seems like a wind up top where the closer it gets to the end, the faster it starts running out. So, enjoy what you have and share if you have more than you need. Try to help someone every chance that you get. Smile at people. Allow your heart to break for those who are suffering. It will help the collective heart of the world.
“Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.”
~ Mark Twain ~
Please, have a wonderful day.
theyearof50 