Today my friend Judy died.
She was a giver. A first-order, drop-everything, be there with a smile on her face, lend a hand, giver.
Judy was full of laughter. She was kind. She was funny. She was feisty. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She spent her days at work helping people out and her time out of work helping people out. And it was never a strain; this was just who she was, a giver.
This completely unfair life left Judy with a brain tumor just weeks after she retired; she spent the remainder of her retirement fighting for her life until today when she passed on while surrounded by her beloved husband, children and others in their family.
When I think of Judy, she’s making a cheeky comment and cracking up. She’s finding the good in the most ordinary of moments.
So life isn’t fair. But it sure is full of amazing people.
I want to make sure that I make the most of every ordinary moment I have with the amazing people in my life.
Sometimes that’s doing something incredible together. Sometimes it’s a quick phone call or a check-in email. Sometimes it’s a full-on snugglefest complete with Thai food or movies or TV reruns of cop shows. Sometimes it’s a yoga date or a group at dinner or just sitting together in silence. Sometimes it’s boisterous laughter or planning a trip or taking a long walk at the reservoir. Sometimes it’s hijacking someone from their regular routine for a glass of wine on the couch while ignoring the kids or driving to Ikea or sitting together knitting. Sometimes it’s doing a whole lot of nothing but being happy with the people that I love.
Our time here is precious and it is not promised to us.
Life is better when you give. It’s better when you laugh. It’s better when you live it up and when you surround yourself with amazing people.
And most of all, life is better when you love with your whole heart.
Rock on, Judy. xoxo
grounded growth 