Thursday 3 December 2009

Carpe Diem

Today my leisurely email and coffee wake up was disrupted by finding out about the sudden, and unexpected, death of a fellow Samaritans volunteer, who I’d been working with since I joined earlier this year. We’d only met ten or so times – enough time for me to appreciate his kindness, desire to help others and interest in the world.

The effect has been the emotional equivalent of a sudden cold drenching and stupid surprise you can have a perfectly normal phone conversation with someone one day, and within a week they can be dead.

And I have to confess to a selfish appreciation of how lucky I am to be alive right now. I’ve been taking the second looks at the sky, the cats, the world in general and appreciating the fragile beauty of the ordinary.


Instead of getting crabby in the Post Office queue, I reminded myself that it didn’t really matter, it wasn’t worth wasting the amount of time I have getting angry, and that plenty of people would be happy to swop grievances. I felt appreciation for the human bonds that make us send Christmas cards, rather than being impatient and wondering why what seemed like everyone else had decided to post their mail at the same time I did.
My mantra for today has been carpe diem, and I’ve been thinking of all the little things that I’ve been putting off doing, waiting until a ‘perfect time’ to do them. I suddenly realised that if I do this too long I’ll waste all my tomorrows waiting for something that doesn’t exist.

13 comments:

  1. Unfortunately we all seem to need the painful reminder that life is precious and fleeting. It's a difficult experience when someone dies suddenly. I have a friend whose six year old granddaughter died last week. It was such a sad shock to everyone but it's really why we shouldn't waste time on what's not important.

    Excellent post with good pictures. And, to answer your questions, that is not my closest neighbor, but even our closest neighbor isn't very close by English standards.

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  2. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. I've had similar experiences when someone I know has died and I'm reminded to "seize the day". Life is way too fleeting and insecure.

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  3. I'm sorry for your loss. I am always reminded of how lucky I am to have this day and breathe another breath when I learn someone has passed.

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  4. Mountain mama - Espcially as the English standard for neigbour proximity is usually a brick wall.

    Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I didn't know him well enough to be more than shocked and saddened - and reminded to get on with living rather than just thinking about it.

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  5. I'm sorry about the loss of your friend. Wonderful post and sky photos. I love the clouds and colors.

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  6. I'm so sorry about the loss of a friend, whether old or new. It's certainly a reminder to enjoy and make the most of every day. Your photos are beautiful, wonderful post!

    Enjoy and make the most of every day!

    Sylvia

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  7. I'm sorry about the loss of a friend, lovely captures of the sky

    Have a great weekend

    Ray of Hope

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  8. Oh I am sorry about the loss of your friend. Great photos you've got thanks for sharing!

    My SkyWatchFriday-Sunset

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  9. Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. My condolences. These beautiful photos are very appropriate.

    Guy
    Regina In Pictures

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  10. I feel reminded of a phrase that my Chinese students used to write in cards and suchlike 'Be happy everyday' - easier said than done but it's good to try at least!

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  11. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Life is full of sufferings. So I always try my best to make it joyful. Beautiful photos. They are very well composed.

    I hope you will have a restful and joyful weekend.

    Alexander
    Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

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  12. I am really sorry to hear about your friend. I think it must have been a terrible experience for you but those photos are absolutely stunning.

    I felt nostalgic when you talked about human bonds that make us send each other Christmas cards. In my life, sending e-cards is the norm and it doesn't bring half the warmth that sending out real cards brings to the giver and the receiver. What do you think?

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  13. I should have read this before I read today's post.

    It's horrible when something like this happens. The sands shift. Anything becomse both possible and impossible.

    Best wishes while you cope.

    Lucy

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