. . . It is such a cliche' thing to say but it's the most simple rule to live by - yet I believe it to be easier said than done. I'm not sure why but it almost seems it's in our nature as humans to take things for granted, we don't always know what we have until it's gone or sadly it takes something tragic to happen or a big scare to take a step back and realize that our life in this world is too precious. Several people in my life are fighting a battle and some days it hits me harder than most - today is one of them. My great grandma is about 97 years old and has the will to live every day. She is not battling anything very serious but at that age everything is a challenge and everyday is a blessing. My grandpa Bob just found out he will need triple bipass surgery because the splints that they put in his chest to help his heart had failed when he had basically a mini heart attack. He has always been the glue in our family - without him, Lord only knows where we'd all be. And then my boyfriend from high school, his dad Mike has been battling cancer for the past 2 years. I read his most current CaringBridge and the doctors said that they have done all they can to help - so now he just wants to go home. My heart is breaking so hard for that family, I wish you all knew this man because you would understand how hard it is to NOT understand why this would happen to him. He taught me a lot for those several years I got to spend with that family - some of the greatest memories of my life are with them - I don't understand why he has to go through this. I remember we would go up to their cabin in the summer time in Minnesota, take the paddle boat on the river, I learned how to shoot a gun that last summer and I remember loving the way that they adored me like I was their only daughter! I was entertainment to them and that was great to me! There's no greater joy to me than making people smile & laugh. But in those few years there is one thing I remember us all saying the most and it was, "live your life to the fullest." It's just so ironic. . . I can barely wrap my mind around it. Just makes you wonder why terrible things happen to the most amazing people in this world?
Yesterday I went to a gymnastics gym because I want to start taking some classes again or at least go to open gym to get back into it. I talked to the head coach there and she was really interested in me once I told her my history with gymnastics and she said that if I wanted I could coach there too! As you can imagine I was absolutely elated! Once I walked out of there I was literally screaming I was so happy and the first person that came to my mind that I wanted to share this news with was Grandpa Bob. When he heard the news I think he was more excited than I was - this is what I adore about him: He never missed one single gymnastics meet my entire career but not only did he just go there to support me, over the years he understood the emotional/physically AND mechanical part about this sport so it would be an understatement to say he completely got what I was going through. I would get done with an event and he would be able to explain what I did wrong, where points were docked, etc... He was better than a coach and to this day it brings tears to my eyes knowing how much he genuinely cared about it as much, if not more, than I did. I'll never be able to thank him enough. You're probably thinking 'what does this have to do with this blog?' Well it has everything to do with it because yesterday I realized something for the first time in my life. I realized that one day I want to be "that" person that someone thinks of first when something great happens in their life. That they wouldn't want to tell ANYONE in this world until they told me because they knew how much I cared. THAT is what I want to achieve in life. I think I am like that to a certain extent to some of my sisters, and I don't think they will ever know that joy until they are old enough to understand and they go through something like I just did.
It's those little special moments in life like I experienced this past weekend - it makes me realize that I am not only growing up but that life is tough yes, but a lot more rewarding as the years go by - moments like those make you see that.
To truly "live your life to the fullest" isn't something you just do once in a while, it should completely be a way of life, something you don't have to even think about. I'm not there yet and it is challenging but it's something I am getting better at. Life is precious, just because I am young doesn't mean my life couldn't end today. Cherish it and hold the ones that love you so close to your heart, even if you are miles and miles away. The lyric that I try to think of everyday and live by is this:
"Be a best friend, tell the truth
& overuse I LOVE YOU.
Go to work, do your best,
don't out-smart your common sense. .
Never let your praying knees get lazy
. . .& love like crazy."
Live by that and you'll always be okay :) ♥
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