Friday, April 1, 2016

A is for alive

Today marks the start of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I've participated in this before though not in several years.

It's rough, starting this on a Friday when I typically write about Kevin, grief, and life-after-death. I also have a ferocious head cold and am on my way to spend a few days with my mother and my dying father. There is a lot going on, but that's the way life is. There is never going to be the right time for almost anything, so today?

A is for alive.

Death looms over everything we do. Whether you're an adrenaline junky, someone afraid to leave home or somewhere in between, it's ever-present. How we choose to respond to that shapes how we live. In its own way, mortality often sweetens life. I only have this moment. I had 15 years with Kevin and for that I am unspeakably grateful. I now have time with C, my new love. I have friends. I have family. I have the wind outside, the trees and the sky. I have stories and music. Any of those can be gone in a moment so for now? I am grateful and as present as I can be. I try to be gentle with myself when "as present as I can be" means watching television and zoning out. It's all part of being.

Today I am alive. My mother and my father are alive. So are you and many of the people you love. While Kevin may no longer be in this world, may no longer be breathing, he lives on in my heart and the hearts of all those who love him.

The love doesn't die. Not while we're still alive and maybe beyond. Mortality gives us the gift of life. Let us live.

(c)2016 Laura S. Packer Creative Commons License

7 comments:

  1. Very Nice Post...

    Welcome in the letter "A"... thank you!
    Jeremy [Retro]
    AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2016]

    Stop over and find a free "SIX STRINGS: BLOGGING AtoZ CHALLENGE" Here: http://www.jmhdigital.com/

    HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
    You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm really enjoying this, thank you for the challenge!

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  2. First, let me say I love your Charlie Brown/Snoopy cartoon. I am a fan of Snoopy. Your post is very touching. A for alive. It has reminded me to live each second with gratitude and love.
    All the best for the challenge.
    Shalom,
    Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

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  3. Very poignant. My parents have both died in the last five years, and I try to remember to live my life instead of napping through it--but also to bear with myself when I go through periods of lethargy.

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    Replies
    1. It's hard sometimes. All we can do is the best we can and sometimes that means napping.

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  4. Great post and you make a great point. We never know when our time here will be over and we have to make the best of the time we do have with our loved ones and be happy to be alive. Thank you for sharing, also, sorry for your loss. Cassie from Mommy, RN

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True Stories, Honest Lies by Laura S. Packer is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.truestorieshonestlies.blogspot.com.
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