I spent my Friday night in a hospital waiting room. They’re right. Waiting is the worst. My friend’s mom was in the critical condition in the ICU. We were informed that she was, “on the right track,” but we were both still very anxious.
I’m not a doctor, despite all the episodes of Grey’s Anatomy I’ve watched. I could not help her mom. The only way I could be of any help was to be there for my friend. It sounds cliche, but all I could do was bring Starbucks, cook and clean. I could hug her while she cried. I also knew that I had to be an oak. Like the tree - Oak trees are known for having thick density, making the trees strong and resilient. I had to be strong. I had to be an oak.
It was at this moment in the waiting room that I was overcome with sadness. Her mother almost died. I thought of my own mother, and all the people in my life I cared about. Situations change in the blink of an eye. People get hurt, people get sick.
My best friend, after I express my sadness said, “Well yeah, that’s what happens.”
He wasn’t being insensitive. He was being real. Death is a part of life. There is no life without death.
Once I got over the initial shock of the statement, I got to thinking.
People always say, “live everyday like it’s your last.”
I’d like to add onto that: live everyday like it’s everyone’s last.
Thinking like this made made me think of all the not so nice things I’ve said or done in anger or frustration. The fight I’ve left lingering - the times I’ve gone to bed angry at someone.
Is it worth it?
