Reflections about life

 

I don’t like to post sad things. I don’t like to write about sad things. I’d rather write about funny stuff and positive events. Unfortunately, life does not work that way. With happiness comes sadness. The Universe tosses obstacles onto the road we travel and trips us up. Sometimes we have to stop and take stock, evaluate where we are on the road and appreciate and enjoy what we have, appreciate our family and friends. And give thanks for the good life we lead, because it can change at any moment, sometimes without warning.

Last week we received news about the suicide of one of our son’s best friends. Today we got the call that one of our good friends is in the hospital with a brain tumor. That’s all we know so far. Results haven’t been in to decide what needs to be done...if anything can be done. He isn’t even retired yet. They have plans to retire at their cottage. Both of them are looking forward to spending their retirement relaxing and traveling. The cottage isn’t even finished yet and there is still so much to be done to get it ready for the life they are dreaming of. And now Fate in all it’s cruelty throws such a huge hurdle in front of them.

I remember when I was still working what one of my customers said to me. He was retired, probably in his early seventies. While watching me take a light fixtures from the ceiling of his old home to be taken to his new one, he suddenly blurted out, “I’m good for nothing.” When I asked why he would say that, he showed me his hands. They were shaking. “Look at these hands,” he said with a tearful voice. “I worked hard all my life. My wife and I were planning our retirement. We were going to travel. I was going to do woodworking, something I always wanted but never had time for. I have a $50,000 RV outside. We’ve never gone anywhere with it. I have all the tools one would need, but I can’t touch any power tools. It seems I got sick the day I retired.”

He had Parkinson’s Disease.

“Enjoy your life now,” he said, “because you never know what happens. Don’t push things off until you’re old. Do it now.”

Sadly, it is not always possible. Lack of money, lack of opportunity, our jobs and other commitments prevent us from doing what we would like to do. Most of us need to work just to survive. There never seems to be enough money to travel to the places we would like to see, or to buy the boat we dream of, or to take that fishing trip with our buddies. So we have RRSPs to make life a bit easier when we retire, we put money into other investments, hoping they grow to a nest egg we can use when we finally can kiss that job we are stuck in goodbye.

Some of us make it, some don’t. And when we make it we get all kinds of ailments that prevent us from really enjoying our retirement. Our joints and muscles ache when we get up, and they don’t stop aching. We don’t even feel like traveling to those exotic places. It doesn’t seem that important anymore. When we thought we’d have all the time in the world to dabble in hobbies we never had time for, we spend much of that time going to Physiotherapy, Doctor’s offices, Skin specialists, exercising, and even taking naps. We never took naps before, but suddenly it seems we are always tired.

The circle of our friends gets smaller every year. We don’t get together as much as we used to with the ones who are still with us.

That’s why it is important to stop and, to use an old saying, smell the roses. We can never say it enough to our family and to our friends: I love you and I’m glad you are here.

Sorry for this ‘Down-in-the-Dumps’ post, but I thought it was important. So, if you read this, take time out of your busy life and enjoy it. Be grateful you are alive and, if you’re religious, say a little prayer of thanks, or just meditate.