words that tear at your heart

I went to a funeral recently, this was a friend of mine, but even more so, he was a lifelong friend of my S.O.
Lifetime friends. We don't get to have many of those. 
My S.O. has been keeping up with him for years and was able to be with him when he passed away.
After his death, we called our condolences by phone, and had stopped by the house.

But here at the funeral home things are sometimes so real, so intense.  Death seems to take up so very much room often taking up all the air around us.
I was giving condolences to our friend (the widow) and hugging her, both of us had tears streaming down our cheeks. She hugged me back so very fiercely and desperately saying, " I don't know what I am going to do without him. He was my world, he was my everything".

We become changed after every death in our lives. As we will change the lives of others upon our death.
Give an extra hug today. Say words with meaning. Forgive a little bit more.  Love the person as much as you can. It is a privilege to have someone to love you and for you to have someone to love.

Bloggers, Giving, and Paying It forward

Lately many of us are cutting back, staying in, doing without and giving less. Understandable with the economy and all that's going or not going on. We draw in when things get tough whether in our personal lives or the world in general.

When we don't get, it is good to give. It is really at this time that we have the potential to change someone's day, their attitude and their direction in life. Gestures of kindness. So simple. And that in turn gives back to you. A circle of everyone just giving a little of themselves, even to someone you don't know.

I'd like to introduce you to,

Mary Stebbins Taitt. A poet, an artist, a free spirit, a gentle soul, a friend . . . With A Pay It Forward opportunity. She is as diverse and fascinating as there are hours in the day. I first stumbled on her at "Marys Detroit Photoblog". She photographs beautiful aspects of the Detroit area that has too long been thought of as decaying and old. I progressed to "MoleskinExchange", where she and other artists draw and paint in each other's  journals by passing them from one artist to the other. That is a definite "need to check" out blog.

Today travel to her "No Polar Coordinates" for a chance to receive a Pay It Forward of her lovely art.

I have been graced by friendships because of blogging that otherwise would never have happened. Isn't that how life is?  Friends come into our lives for a reason or a season and some make a bigger difference in our lives than they will ever know.

THREE WORDS

Can you descibe yourself in three words?
A difficult task to be sure.
Are they the same three words that those closest to you would use?

I had a class, quite some time ago, that was intimate because we spent an entire year and
a half together studying and doing practical clinical time. It was early mornings, late nights and
accelerated studies. A stressful time. Many were short on money, going through changes in
relationships, trying to work as well and be a part of family and friends too. Everyday stresses
and more added to a pressure cooker. Not enough hours in the day. Yes, I'm sure most of
 you can relate in some way.
At the end of the year, there was a day where everyone had to describe each other in class in
three words. We had to write them down on paper. No one saw what anyone wrote.
 The next day we were given the words that described us.
A pretty powerful experience. Some surprises and mostly many affirmations.
Overall it was really much more positive than anything.
Think about it. Do you know the same you that others do?

just do it . . .

Sometimes when you take a chance and go outside your box you will discover a whole new you.