As I sit here, on the eve of a new year, I am left with thoughts of grief and condolences for three of my friends who have lost a parent this holiday season. Part of me feels the sense of loss, and the inevitable march of time that ticks by for all of us. I am left with the thought that all of us, without exception, are here only temporarily; travelers in this world, with only the memories we leave with others, as markers of our journey. As they say; Without exception, death awaits us all.
And while left a bit melancholy, a sense of the new year reminds me, that where there is death, there is life. That for each departure, there is always (and often more) arrival. And thus, the cycle continues, with new journeys beginning, and new memories shared. Memories and experiences that are interwoven into the fabric of every life touched, every shared common experience. Whether those experiences are good or bad, matters not; only that they are shared.
I look back, and call to mind memories of parents and friends; vivid in color, and full of life. I see them now, and some are weathered and worn, bowed and stooped, displaying the effects of life's hardships, age and experiences. I see many of them as solitary trees, each on their own hill. Gnarled. Grizzled. And yet they stand proud on their hill. A testament to their resilience, fortitude and independence to live their lives as they saw fit. Their tenacity to overcome strife and conflict. Their resolute commitment to LIVE and LOVE. And, in my mind's eye, if I look a little closer, I see the young saplings beginning to poke up beneath the shade of the old tree, their branches adorned in leaves, reaching for the sun. Eager. Wanting. Vibrant. Shielded by the older tree, until they are strong enough to have their branches surpass the heights of the older tree.
And if I step back, I see again (in my mind's eye) the forest that begins to grow on that hill. What was once a barren hill with a solitary tree is no more, and now a wooded forest exists. I see the generations and generations of saplings and trees that grow, age, and slowly begin to decline. And with this wider perspective I am left with the peace and serenity that comes with the knowledge that we are all part of that forest, and we have but a part to play in the symphony of life that occurs within that forest. That all of our branches and roots, over time, are interwoven and create this jumbled kaleidoscope of events we call life.
And so, as I sit here thinking on the eve of this new year, I am reminded that there is much left to do. Much left to experience. Friendships to be made, losses to be endured, and joys to be celebrated. All of it lies ahead of us, if we but have the courage to continue to move forward. And so I wish to all of you a Happy New Year, and encourage you to continue to move forward. Live life well, cherish those around you and play your part as best you can, in this forest we call life.
Happy New Years to all you window lickers here...
And while left a bit melancholy, a sense of the new year reminds me, that where there is death, there is life. That for each departure, there is always (and often more) arrival. And thus, the cycle continues, with new journeys beginning, and new memories shared. Memories and experiences that are interwoven into the fabric of every life touched, every shared common experience. Whether those experiences are good or bad, matters not; only that they are shared.
I look back, and call to mind memories of parents and friends; vivid in color, and full of life. I see them now, and some are weathered and worn, bowed and stooped, displaying the effects of life's hardships, age and experiences. I see many of them as solitary trees, each on their own hill. Gnarled. Grizzled. And yet they stand proud on their hill. A testament to their resilience, fortitude and independence to live their lives as they saw fit. Their tenacity to overcome strife and conflict. Their resolute commitment to LIVE and LOVE. And, in my mind's eye, if I look a little closer, I see the young saplings beginning to poke up beneath the shade of the old tree, their branches adorned in leaves, reaching for the sun. Eager. Wanting. Vibrant. Shielded by the older tree, until they are strong enough to have their branches surpass the heights of the older tree.
And if I step back, I see again (in my mind's eye) the forest that begins to grow on that hill. What was once a barren hill with a solitary tree is no more, and now a wooded forest exists. I see the generations and generations of saplings and trees that grow, age, and slowly begin to decline. And with this wider perspective I am left with the peace and serenity that comes with the knowledge that we are all part of that forest, and we have but a part to play in the symphony of life that occurs within that forest. That all of our branches and roots, over time, are interwoven and create this jumbled kaleidoscope of events we call life.
And so, as I sit here thinking on the eve of this new year, I am reminded that there is much left to do. Much left to experience. Friendships to be made, losses to be endured, and joys to be celebrated. All of it lies ahead of us, if we but have the courage to continue to move forward. And so I wish to all of you a Happy New Year, and encourage you to continue to move forward. Live life well, cherish those around you and play your part as best you can, in this forest we call life.
Happy New Years to all you window lickers here...
