Your outstanding Loan: How are you Handling it?

You have an outstanding loan. It’s usually called, “the gift of life,” but really it’s a loan, and I was reminded of that almost every day this month.

Triumph and Tragedy

This has been a week when people near and dear to me have faced both triumph and tragedy. My friends and family have had multiple events to celebrate my birthday, and that of others also celebrating this month.  One childhood friend lost her ailing mother, on the very day that her mother gave her birth. Other friends celebrated wedding anniversaries or their children’s birthdays.

Sometimes this happens within the same circle of friends. How then, do you give give each person their due? Celebrating with those who are/should be happy? And grieving with those who mourn?

It feels that we shouldn’t let one situation affect the other, but life is messy. That’s how things shake out sometimes.

When a Loan is Called

It eventually happens to all of us. No matter how nobly we may have lived, someday our “loan” will be called. What we do now, for ourselves, and for each other, is all that will matter.

I saw a new Facebook filter circulating that says, “Thankful for us.” Posthumous honors are nice for the living relatives, but not for the person who is no longer here.

For some people, the loan gets called sooner rather than later, and sometimes in ways that we think is unfair. Be that as it may, we can only control ourselves and what we do.

A Lifestyle

It boils down to this:

That includes not just others, but also our own. Don’t you find yourself too caught up in caring for others, and feel guilty for doing something nice for yourself? Don’t! The better you take care of yourself, the more of you is available for others.

Showing off?

During a recent ladies’ brunch, we observed a moment in memory of someone who was close friends with many people in the room. Even as we celebrated seeing another day, we could not help but be reminded about the fragility of life.

In fact, another lady in the room illustrated that. She looks like the picture of health, and much younger than her 60-odd years. She said that just 4 short years ago, she suffered a stroke, was unable to talk and was in a wheelchair. Today, she was dressed up, her makeup and hair done beautifully.

For her, it’s not about showing off, but rather about being grateful for being given another chance at life. she savors every bit of it, unapologetically.

How will you savor your life, your gift, your loan? Share your thoughts below.