Following reports of Natasha Richardson's injury while skiing this past weekend, and subsequent (alleged) brain death, I want to touch upon a subject that is of a relatively sensitive nature (at least to me, anyway) and kind of expound on it a bit.
First, allow me to express my deepest condolences to the family, regardless of the outcome; I can't imagine having something so tragic happening at the drop of a hat, like this has. I can't imagine what her poor family is going through right now, her husband, Liam Neeson and their children, as well. This woman was only forty-five years old. I hope and pray that she can overcome this injury and go back to loving life with her family.
My point of this post is just that... Don't take a breath for granted. Don't waste your time enveloped in anger and wrapped in the past. Don't live with remorse and don't always assume you can apologize next time.
I've spent (and seen) too many moments wished and pissed and frittered away.
I've seen sudden death and the recourse it takes upon those remaining. Things left undone, unplanned, unsaid.
I've seen the remorse of regret that goes hand in hand when someone is suddenly ripped away.
The more people I lovingly surround myself with and allow into my little world, frightens me tenfold as that circle grows larger. The people that I've brought into my life that I care for more than anything are my reason for living, my hopes and my dreams for the future. They are my family.
I can't reiterate the point enough. At the risk of sounding like a bad cliche or sappy ending to an overly-emotional movie; don't take the ones you care about for granted. Don't go to bed angry. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Especially the positive things. Avoid negative people and negative places. Fill your lives with happiness and light, enjoyment and love.
Above all, live each moment as it were your last. Live your life at its potential and do your best in all you do.
The bottom line is: take care of yourselves and even better care of the ones you love.
I think using Natasha Richardson's tragic accident to make that point is very effective. In a way, I think that's part of where my obsession with celebrity trivia comes from--they are people I know, but not people I "know." That Natasha Richardson could face serious injury or death makes my heart pound, but it's a reminder that it could have been one of my loved ones, not just someone I read about or watch in movies. I hope that doesn't sound cold ...
ReplyDeleteNo, I agree completely with everything you said. This is just such a tragedy. It just amazes me how fast things can happen and I don't really think a lot of people realize that they have just ONE shot in this life to really, really make things right. Some get lucky and have a few... But not on the whole.
ReplyDeleteIt's just sad that so many people take so many things for granted and don't cherish what's right in front of them.
It's similar with people that have disabilities. Generally, if you meet a visually-impaired or hearing-impaired individual, you find a lot that they are some of the happiest people on earth. I don't know why some people have to 'have it all' to be completely content.
We should be taking a leaf out of their books.