If you've ever shared a glass of wine with me and discussed my journey, my book, or life in general, we've likely touched upon the topic of death. It's a subject I've become familiar and comfortable with due to its recurring presence in my early life, stemming from the loss of friends of several friends in their 20s, and my father's untimely suicide at 55 when I was only 24.
Each loss served as a stark reminder of life's impermanence.
After my dads passing, I penned a letter to those to attended his funeral, including some lessons that this experience brought me. Today, I'd like to take a moment to share them with you.
Never skip an opportunity to tell your loved ones how you feel about them.
My last words to my dad were "Happy Thanksgiving Pops, I am so grateful for you. Love you!" That gushy type of message felt weird for me to send, but I can't begin to express how much comfort those words have given me since his passing. You can text your loved ones now…
Life’s challenges are gifts, embrace them.
“You haven’t gone through shit? What a shame…”
Discomfort = Growth and your mindset in times of challenge will make all the difference. I made the conscious decision to embrace these challenges as lessons rather than allow them to hinder my future. This attitude has allowed me and my family to come out stronger than ever before and with a more sincere appreciation for life. Embrace the lessons that life hands you.
There is always going to be someone out there who has it worse than you.
When life is tough and you think you’re at your breaking point – remember there is always someone out there who has it worse and is continuing to Fight On. You can too. While someone is getting over a bad break up, someone else just lost their home, while someone lost their home, someone else is mourning the death of a loved one, while someone is mourning the death of a loved one, someone else is battling a terminal illness, while someone is battling a terminal illness, someone else didn’t get the chance to even battle in the first place. Fight on.
Be grateful for every single day you have on this beautiful Earth.
Don't get mad at your waiter for mistaking your order, don't fret over a flat tire, don't get upset because your $2,000 A/C unit went out again - life is too short for that shit. Instead, be grateful you have enough money to be serviced by a waiter, or you have a car to get a flat tire on, or have a home with air conditioning to live in. There are 100 positive aspects of every negative situation; embrace them and life will be easier on you.
Travel with your parents.
I didn’t get that many opportunities with my dad, but the ones I did are some of my fondest memories; a trip to Mexico and a four-wheeling trip to Utah stand out among the best. Now I’ve committed to traveling with my mom every two years, and I am confident that I will never regret the moments or money I’m spending to do so. Whether it’s a low-cost camping trip or a week in Aruba, create memories that stick. Book that trip.
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