Life is short

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
    so that we may grow in wisdom."

- Psalm 90:12

I attended a funeral this weekend. Funerals are never easy, but this one was particularly hard. It was for a wonderful woman whose life was cut shorter than one would expect. Or hope for. Afterwards, a friend of mine said he thought funerals are a way for those of us left behind to examine our own lives. I felt the same way. I wondered while I was listening to all the accolades and beautiful stories and wonderful ways they described this person, "What would people say about me?" I want to be the kind of person that someone would say, "She never said a harsh word about anyone," or "She loved unconditionally."  The thing is, I am not those things ... I am flawed and imperfect and struggle through life like the rest of us. I have made mistakes. And will make many more I am certain. But then I am reminded that life is not about perfection. It is about love. And grace. 

I recently read an article written by a nurse who worked with patients who knew they were dying. When she questioned them about their regrets, these were the most common:

1.  I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2.  I wish I didn't work so hard.

3.  I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

4.  I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5.  I wish that I had let myself be happier.

The article made me think back to a number of years ago when another young woman, a very good friend of mine, was dying and how we had talked about the importance of living a life with no regrets. That is not an easy thing to do, I think. But something to strive for. 

Thanks for making this world a better place, sweet Mimi.

May the love you poured out onto all of us here on earth be remembered forever. 

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8