On The Cycle of Life

A new friend here in North Carolina, relayed these words to me "As we all get older, the cycle of life becomes more present in our lives."

We can all agree with that. At first thought, my response would be, why. I mean, of course people get old and die, that is a given. But what about the senseless deaths, the accidents, the illnesses that claim people before their supposed time? All of a sudden we are saying "Oh my God, seems like everyone is dying !". Well, guess what, they always were, all around us, loss, everyday, from the time we are born to the time we die.For me, it was in my thirties. Just seemed like people I knew, family members and friends, were being plucked from the earth.

It seems to me, that right around the time we are maturing in our adulthood enough to finally truly, and I mean TRULY appreciate life, our family and friends etc., is right around the time that cycle of life awareness hits us. . Our egos and selfishness of our youth fade somewhat into the past, and thoughts from our younger years that we truly are THE center of the universe, are replaced by, "hey, it's not just about me".

Then BAM, loved ones die, good friends are struck will illnesses that no one would have expected at "their age". People who have touched our hearts, loose their lives due to icy, snowy roads. Makes no sense right?

Maybe, just maybe, what comes out of it are reminders of our realizations about life, love and caring for others, be it family, friends, or people you barely know. And a new realization that everyone, no matter how big of small, how famous or infamous, whether a fast food worker or a doctor, makes a difference in this world. And through six degrees of separation, what we do, say, exhibit in our behaviors, what we care about, what we confess, what we state to the world, affects many.

So if the cycle of life becomes more apparent and present to us as we age, both physically and mentally, I guess I choose to believe loss, is a reminder of our earlier realization...that we are all one voice, one entity, we are all important in this world, and we should hold each other dear. Slow down a minute, hug your kiddos, make that call you have been meaning to make, say those words you have been meaning to say, visit that relative you haven't seen in years, grant forgiveness to that person, make that apology.

Rejoice a little more often, love a little bit more deeply, give a little less selflessly. That is what death teaches us.