I have experienced my fair share of loss. I’ve lost my father and a host of other family members, friendships, jobs, and opportunities. A little over a week ago, my paternal grandmother passed away suddenly. There are so many things I still needed her to see. Conversations I need to have with her. I know that I shouldn’t wish her back, but selfishly I do.
My experience with loss has taught me 3 valuable lessons that I want to share. These may seem like no-brainers, but we can always find a way complicate the simple things in life.
- Don’t take tomorrow for granted. There is something to be said about ‘seizing the day’. It has been a long time since I’ve lost someone close to me. I forgot how important it is to pick up the phone to call someone or to make time to stop by. It’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and miss out on the simple things that mean the most to the ones we love. Losing my grandmother reminded me of the scripture in Psalms 6:4 “Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.” Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Take the time out see about the people that mean something to you. Tomorrow is not promised.
- Be present. Technological advances have hindered our ability to be socially adept. We are now so ‘connected’ to our devices, celebrity lives, reality star lifestyles, and other fake news that we find one-on-one conversations unfulfilling at times. Those who you love will value having your time and attention and your genuine interest in what’s happening in their lives. I would challenge you to create some rules around un-plugging for a while to enjoy life first-hand, live and in living color.
- Be kind. Kindness is so rare these days. At times, it can feel as though kindness is the ticket to gaining something from a person and as soon as the bounty is won the pleasantries are out the window. Spewing cruelty has become commonplace and when you encounter kindness it’s surprising and takes your breath away. I believe when people resort to being unkind, it is mostly a defense mechanism to protect their biases, judgements, and points of view. Kindness is free, doesn’t cost a thing. You don’t know what storm(s) a person is facing in their life, so always opt to be kind. A kind word could be what helps turn a person’s day around. There is no amount of success that frees you from being kind. People may not remember what you have done for them, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
