Everyone on this planet has one thing in common. Regardless of your race, gender, marital status or last name. We are all the same in that we cannot live forever. That’s an easier way of saying we are going to die.

I have been reflecting on death a lot lately. My mind is all over the place with the awareness of a simple fact that we have all known our entire lives.

When I think of the sadness associated with death, it is purely selfish. One is sad because they are experiencing a loss. One feels empathy for the loved ones going through the difficult time. 

When I applied the scenerio of dying to myself in the past, I thought, if I knew I was going to die, I would quit my job, travel the world and really start living. What I have come to find out, is by the time you get the wake up call, you don’t feel like doing a whole lot. 

Over the last 24 hours, I have been reflecting on death in a manner of saying goodbye. Tomorrow we are visiting an old family friend who was given a terrible diagnosis and a short time to live. I have so many questions. What do I say? What should I do? How are they coping? How is she doing, watching her husband of 50 plus years, her best friend, how does she say goodbye?

And, then, it brings me back to watching my father die. Hospice. What a word. The agony he suffered, the pain, the goodbyes. 

There is something special about saying goodbye. A situation that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Because others don’t get a chance to say their final words. 7 years ago, I was in the coffee aisle at the grocery store when Scott came walking towards me. His mom died in her sleep. There was no goodbye. Just a rush to get on a plane to get there. For what? For why? 

So, anyone who is reading this, take this as your wake up call and I challenge you to change ONE thing in your life in an effort to live a life worth living. Now, I said, change YOU.  Not your spouse, your kids, your coworker who drives you crazy. The only person you have control of is yourself. 

Me?? What am I going to change? One thing, hmmmm.  That will be for another post. 

As for living, I just keep thinking Jeffrey and Cecilia’s life would be better with me in it.  Hell, after 9 years together, I think Scott’s would be too😉 and there I go, being selfish again!

Nikki Commentary:  when we took this photo, we decided to be each others support group.  A great man!!

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.