Saturday, December 24, 2005
Smelling the Roses
In the hustle-bustle existence we often find ourselves in, we sometimes forget to take the time to really live…to notice the things around us that truly make a difference. With the New Year fast approaching I want to encourage you to make it a point to live your very best life possible beginning with 2006. I also wish to share a personal story with you that really drives the message home of how important it is to live…
I have a younger sister who in my eyes is absolutely amazing. A few years ago she landed a job with a major telecomm company in their IT department. When she started she knew very little about setting up server farms let alone computers. She literally taught herself everything she needed to know and then some. Now she is highly respected not only in the IT department, but in her company. She has truly made a name for herself by doing a phenomenal job. You see, my sister’s work ethic is off the charts. She will put in 12 hour days and work while having the flu, because she cares about her job and the people she works with.
Last weekend my sister and I had a long conversation on the phone about life and how her life has somehow passed her by. She shared how she felt it was time to start living and enjoying the things around her. After our call, she sent me an e-mail with a letter attached that she sent to a dear friend of hers…a letter that I would like to share with you.
Excerpt from her e-mail….
I wanted to share with you the letter I wrote. If you should find this letter or the conversation we have had could help others stop to take a look at the great gifts around them… I welcome you to use it in anyway you deem appropriate
And now the beautiful letter…
Pat,
It’s Saturday morning, and I have been sitting thinking about work, the way I have let it consume my days, and pretty much taken the lead role of what I call “my life”. Then your image popped in my head from seeing you the other day walking down the hall towards me with your adorable dark curly hair, and smile that radiates for miles. It made me stop and realize so many things that I wanted to share with you…
First and foremost - I want you to know that I feel so incredibly fortunate for having met you!
Meeting you prior to your relapse with breast cancer, you exuded such a genuine warmth, sense of caring, and a true love for life that I gravitated towards you immediately, and felt an instant sense of friendship.
As we got to know each other, and you have shared with me your experience as you fight the most important battle of your life, I sit here in sheer awe of you.
I have seen you hit some hard times where I could see the doubt in your face in your fight with cancer. However those times have been few and far between. The majority of the time, I have seen you exude strength like no other I have seen before with your determination to beat cancer, and beat it with the most positive outlook.
I have shed many tears as you have told me of the condition of the cancer, and how recently it has spread elsewhere. At the same time, I have listened to you share news with a sense of inner peace that without a sliver of doubt in my mind – I know you above all have the power, will, and drive to fight this!
With every step you take, I am in awe of your ability to approach each day with that zest for life and that smile that brightens the world.
I heard someone say on a talk show the other day “I work to live – not live to work." I have made the hard realization that I having been living to work. I regret not taking more time of each one of my days to stop to spend time with the people that enrich my life such as you, and more importantly that I don’t stop to let them know just how they impact my life.
So – here I am – stopping from responding to emails from work, stopping not thinking about the stress as to how I am going to meet everyone’s demands, and ensure I don’t let them down, stopping finally recognizing I can’t bear the burden alone
… and taking that time that is so precious to tell you how blessed I feel to know you, and that you simply being you has made such a difference in my life!!!
With sincere admiration and love
Wendy
To my amazing kid sister; thank you for sharing of yourself and allowing me to share your insights with others. I am VERY proud of you! Know that I stand beside you, supporting you in living your very best life.
To the great people who read this blog; don’t forget to take some time to live, to be good to you, to take stock of the amazing gifts that you bring to this world and that surround you. Oh, and very important…while you are traveling your life’s journey, don’t forget to smell the roses along the way.
Until next time, be well…
Pam
Posted by Pam at 8:28:30 PM in Creating Change (89) | Permalink | Comments (5)
Comments
live well, and love well. i'm only 19, but it's never too early to really start living. =)you too, pam. merry christmas.
Posted by liuhua on 26/12/2005
Liuhua, you are so right...it is never too early to start living! Enjoy and have fun!Be well!!
Pam
Posted by Pam on 26/12/2005
Words that we all can gain stregnth from ty so much!Posted by wally on 27/12/2005
Thank you very much.I csn live with that as long as I live.
God be with you always.
Posted by Orikinla+Osinachi on 29/12/2005
I'm glad your sister realized this before getting to old to see it. I wish more people would wake up and understand that a job is only to enable you to do the things you like and live the way you want. I feel my college education was bogus because, as I understand it, university was founded to promote individuality. Not to make yourself a more valuable asset to a company. I only hope more people will see this without something bad happening to them or someone close.Posted by ChunkyBustout on 30/12/2005
