One Precious Life

“Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.” – Garrison Keillor

“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

My sister-in-law’s Dad passed away on Monday
Looking through my photos to find some for the funeral next week
Going through, laughing, remembering, witnessing lives intertwined
The old neighborhood in winter, weddings, graduations, summers on water, gatherings
Joy and ease of youth, weathering of time, family and friends woven through it all
The important “stuff” of relationships, love, what makes a good life
So much more to say and reflect on
Truths not platitudes
But the short list…
Let go of your need to be right
Don’t demand that everyone agree or think your way
Don’t be an ass
And when you are one, apologize
Forgive, again and again
Go first, again and again
Lighten up
Stop being so angry about every damn thing, so easily offended
Let it go and focus on what’s most important, discard the rest
Laugh more, everyday, seriously
Hunt for beauty, wonder, joy
It’s hidden right in front of you
Be kind, gracious, generous, fun, unassuming, playful, silly
Keep learning, growing, changing to the very last breath
Resist growing old, stale, set in your ways
Life is in the ordinary, our job is to make it extraordinary with our attention, reverence and awe
No one gets out of here alive so live and love well
Every single day.

“Life is half spent before we know what it is.”― George Herbert