When we see the headlines, read the articles, watch the news, we always, and I mean ALWAYS hear about the death of someone. In our minds, we think "wow, how unfortunate for them and their families," or something to that degree.
What happens when we read those articles and see those headlines and watch the news and hear of someone who we are related to has passed on? It stunning, honestly.
Recently, I had an uncle pass away; but I didn't know him. I hadn't talked to him in years. I didn't know he lived down the road from me, I didn't know his wife, his kids, his life. All I knew was he was my uncle, and now, he was lying lifeless in a casket- the permanent end.
I was sad, yes, but mostly because I didn't know him and everyone around me was sad because they did know him. I was just some face in crowd because he wasn't an active member of my family who I saw every holiday, for family outings, or on the weekends. He was just...some guy who I shared a minuscule amount of blood with.
Why was I sad? Like I said, I didn't know him so I had no right to mourn his death. I should have thought, "wow, how unfortunate for him and his family," but he was my family. He was a forgotten part of my life. I'm sad that I didn't reach out and make my presence known more. I'm sad that I didn't get the chance to know him, because the tomorrow that I always said would come, never did and never will. I postponed it, I waited until "I had more time." Now, all the time is gone into a infinite void of nothing.
Okay, so I have, like, a million aunts and uncles and cousins and family members. After both my cousin's passing and my uncle's passing, I realized now that I need to spend a focused amount of time with my family members whenever I have the chance. Whenever I have that "free time" I need to make a phone call, at the very least, send a text to check in and let them know I love them as often as possible. Why? Because tomorrow may never come, and what if I don't get to know them? What if I let them pass away not knowing that I am here and that I care?
Do not let time pass by. Apologize, forgive, and move on. If they're not meant to be in your life, I get that, but making a genuine effort to let them know you care and love them, even sporadically, is so very important. Hold those you love closer than imaginable and love on them fiercely. Tomorrow may never come. Tomorrow needs to be today, right now. Tomorrow, may be too late.
"Never get too busy making a living that you forget to make a life."
