Life is Short
"Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: "I am with you kid. Let's go." ~Maya Angelou
I have always said, "Life is Short". It came into my vocabulary several years ago, when it was a major marketing slogan and it has been with me ever since. When trying to justify a last minute splurge or trip, I would say, "Life is short". When reassuring a friend to do something they were hesitant about, I would say, "Life is short". When pushing someone out of their comfort zone for all the right reasons, I would say, "Life is short".
This statement has always meant to be encouraging. Until recently, I never thought about it's true implications.
When someone you love has been diagnosed with an incurable illness, those three words ring out in an entirely different way.
It is easy to forget our mortality. It is easy in the heyday of youth to think that you have a million days ahead of you. It is easy to flippantly say, "Life is short" and mean you will seize whatever fun thing stands before you. Until you say those words and you see the face of someone who knows all too well what you mean.
Just like that, my token saying has been absorbed into my everyday. Just like that, I don't overstate the obvious. When the reality hits that days are numbered and time is passing, you don't dare say, "Life is short".
There isn't time for it.
I have always said, "Life is Short". It came into my vocabulary several years ago, when it was a major marketing slogan and it has been with me ever since. When trying to justify a last minute splurge or trip, I would say, "Life is short". When reassuring a friend to do something they were hesitant about, I would say, "Life is short". When pushing someone out of their comfort zone for all the right reasons, I would say, "Life is short".
This statement has always meant to be encouraging. Until recently, I never thought about it's true implications.
When someone you love has been diagnosed with an incurable illness, those three words ring out in an entirely different way.
It is easy to forget our mortality. It is easy in the heyday of youth to think that you have a million days ahead of you. It is easy to flippantly say, "Life is short" and mean you will seize whatever fun thing stands before you. Until you say those words and you see the face of someone who knows all too well what you mean.
Just like that, my token saying has been absorbed into my everyday. Just like that, I don't overstate the obvious. When the reality hits that days are numbered and time is passing, you don't dare say, "Life is short".
There isn't time for it.
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