"Today is a new day."
"Keep moving forward."
"Just keep swimming."
Oddly enough, my mantras last week all stem from Disney movies. It was a stressful, emotional, and long week to get through. Mostly work related, however we had some child vomiting through the night which meant no sleep for me. Also on Saturday, there was news of the passing of a friend I had met around the time Connor was born. Her children are around the same age as mine. She died in her sleep, although some say it was an aneurysm. We were not especially close, but that doesn't mean I do not mourn her passing. She was my age. Her children are the same age as mine. I cannot even fathom the pain they must feel knowing that mommy is never coming back.
I was looking forward to today as being the start of a new day. My co-worker (and friend) retired on Friday, and I am stepping up to take over her role while we wait for her replacement. Some of her duties will stay mine. I have some big shoes to fill. All was good until I opened my email this morning and saw that she had sent me a note. My eyes filled with tears with her words to me. She had had her last day planned out, right down to her last minutes at work, where we walk out together, hug and say see you later. Ah, the best laid plans... it was hectic and her planned goodbye didn't happen. We did hug, but it was rushed as she was hurrying out the door. There was a crowd of people, all hoping to get in their last goodbye. I walked out alone.
Life is short. I have my planner and to do list and the idea of starting a business swimming in my head. But there are no guarantees that I will be here tomorrow to cross things off and buy supplies. No matter how I *think* things are going to happen, in a blink of an eye, it all can change. I can bide my time, worrying about tomorrow, analyzing every detail, spending hours scrolling through Facebook... or I can live. I can be present in my life - for my husband, for my children, for myself. We get one chance with that, and God only knows how long that chance will last. So live while you can. Love while you can. And be thankful for every blessed day that comes your way.
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