People dressed in lime green, people opening their wallets, people smiling and feeling good about doing something good for others. It's a wonderful reminder about how to live, how to make a difference...
Dan and I talked about how many new connections we have in our lives since the loss of Shannon. Deeper connections filled with empathy and love and support. It truly is a gift.
Of course, now that the golf event is over, I'm already thinking about our next events... Brains Together For a Cure walk... Shannon Cup hockey tournaments... 2015 scholarships...
I can't help myself. It's how I operate - look ahead, start planning, drive myself a little bit crazy by overthinking things, then it all works out in the end...
But, I'm going to try and set those preparations aside and enjoy the next two weeks. We've got Shannon's birthday, then a trip to Lake Hubert. Summer is flying by...
I've had two friends lose their fathers this week. Not unexpected in either case, but still hard. I had some interaction with another man who is dying of kidney cancer. Reminders all around to enjoy what's here and now. Stay in the present. Do good while you are here. Don't worry about things beyond your control.
I wanted to share with you a poem that I received this week from my friend Mary Ann. It's a beautiful reminder of how to live. These words remind me of someone...
SO WHAT WILL MATTER ?
Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and the colour of your skin will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought but what you built.
What will matter is not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those that loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
- Anonymous
