The recent death of one of our members here in Indianapolis, Gayla N. has touched me deeply.
I didn't know Gayla very well, but I remember her exuberance, her zest for living, and her beautiful smile. Reading the news report of the accident that took her life, I thought about just how short life is and how quickly it can end. I imagined Gayla waking up that morning, having coffee and making plans for the day, never suspecting that it would be her last day on earth. Then I realized that I do the same thing every day- I get up and have coffee while sorting through the days priorities. I separate what must be done from what should be done, and get an idea of where I will start. I might think about calling my sponsor but then I think, "I'll get around to that later." I might also think about someone to whom I owe an apology and decide it can wait until I see them face to face. I might even think about that last call from a sponsee that I haven't returned yet. Never, though, in all those plans, do I think about the fact that today might be the day I draw my last breath. Thinking on these things made me resolve to try harder to keep my priorities in order: People are more important than things, even expensive things. Relationships are more important than money, any amount of money, and letting people that I love hear it now is always more important than waiting for "just the right time." What I realized through this addicts passing is that I want to live my life in such a way that when it comes time to die, all there is left to do...is die. I thank Gayla for giving me this awareness, even in her death, and I will honor her each time I remember to say "I love you" to someone special. My deepest sympathy goes to her family and friends. I hope my own passing, when it does come, may bring someone as great a gift. Until then, I'll keep coming back.
-- Edited by BigV at 12:55, 2008-08-13
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"With a sweet tongue of kindness, you can drag an elephant by a hair." ~Persian Proverb
Beautiful piece Dan. Way to pull a positive out of a negative. We're all on borrowed time. Making the best out of each day spiritually and living life to the fullest as though it were your last makes for an amazing day of living in the moment.
I was just trying to make the text larger Dan , why your post is edited.
I take life for granted and have my prioritys screwed up all the time . It feels weird even telling my mother that I love her and think of her often I dont know why, probably because thats not how I was raised. I see my family every now and then yeah we talk on the phone one a week or every few weeks and thats about it, the most IMPORTANT people in my life and I barely talk with them, there loss would shatter my world and there barely a word spoken, boy tears stream when I talk about this, I think I need to do something about this today, Thanks Dan.
