The View from a Drawbridge

The shock of having the person I loved most in the world die unexpectedly two weeks ago has taught me much.

• Life is as fragile as a soap bubble. It could pop at any moment and that’s it. You’re done.
• Because life is so fragile, it’s precious. You only get a little bit of it, so savor every single second.
• Because it’s so precious, it is absurd to waste your time worrying about the little things over which you have absolutely no control.
• Everything is a little thing, except for the people you love and the people who love you. Nothing else matters.
• Nothing. Else. Matters.

I vaguely remember learning these same lessons when my mother died 23 years ago, but somewhere along the way I got caught back up in the minutiae of life and forgot these things. I hope I never do again. They’re important. They are the only things that really are important.

Once you start viewing life through this particular lens, all the petty crap and drama tends to fall by the wayside and things become really simple. Don’t take the people you love for granted. Appreciate everything and everyone that comes your way. But most of all, stop wasting time.

Live!

[Image credit: marian16rox.tumblr.com]