Loss of a Friend Changes Your Perspective of Life, That’s for Sure!

Losing someone you love changes your perspective on life. Unfortunately, I recently experienced the loss of someone I loved dearly. It has certainly changed my perspective. I thought I was a person who appreciated those around me. I now see that I canappreciate the people around me even more.

I certainly have gotten the message that life is precious’ having had cancer twice now in my life. Right now the message toappreciate life around me is coming in even more clearly.

My friend, Elaine, is gone. There is a void. There is NO ONE EXACTLY LIKE HER in my life now. I will miss her forever. I didn’t realize my last day with her was going to be my last day with her. Looking back, I wish I would have hugged her one more time; I wish I would have told her how much I valued our friendship; I wish I would have told her how much I knew I could always count on her: I wish I would have told her how much I appreciated her honesty and directness with me; I wish.I wish.I wish. The list could go on. I am grateful for the time I had with her.

I know this is a sad subject but it is real. All of us are going to experience loss at times in our life. My gift to you is to share this experience with you so that you can learn from it. Ask yourself these questions.

Who do I appreciate in my life and have I told them how much I appreciate them?

Am I really truly grateful for everything in my life?

Is there someone I love who needs to hear the wordsI love you?

Is there someone in my life who I need to forgive?

How would my life change if I appreciated everybody and everything around me?

Would I live differently if I knew I only had a short time to live?

To Elaine, here is a poem from one of my favorite authors, Shel Silverstein from A Light in the Attic

The Bridge

This bridge will only take you halfway there

To those mysterious lands you long to see:

Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fairs

And moonlit woods where unicorns run free.

So come and walk awhile with me and share

The twisting trails and wondrous worlds I’ve known.

But this bridge will only take you halfway there

The last few steps you’ll have to take alone.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.– Anonymous