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Brie Petrucci's avatar

Our daughter's high school theatre group just put on a production of "Our Town." The timing was difficult for our family - my brother and his fiance and children perished in Helene in the mountains of North Carolina. She insisted on keeping her stage tech role in the show. In a way, it ended up being cathartic, even though she was reeling from the loss.

The synchronicities of the play were both comforting and eerie. My brother and I grew up in a small New England town on the border of New Hampshire. Our beloveds were buried in a hillside meadow, overlooking the Appalachians.

As the actor who played Emily spoke that famous line "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? Every, every minute?" it brought unexpected feelings of comfort.

Each of our family members lived vibrant, colorful, creative lives, with tender attention to animals, community, and our kinship with the Earth. My brother was a beekeeper, musician, artist, and aspiring blacksmith - and that only touches on the things he explored during his short life. Of course, mundane and personal struggles sometimes clouded the delight of being alive in their day-to-day lives - but in their memory, I am continually reminding myself they will want us left behind in grief to truly live and "follow our bliss."

The irony is that today, I was feeling wrapped up into the little frustrations of life, and generally feeling wretched - which I'm sure is the distraction and projection from the loss and deep feelings of grief. So, after I post this I will put the breaks on my worrying to take a mindful walk, notice what comes my way, and enjoy the small joys this day brings with it.

Thank you for this post today, Susan. It was an unexpected gift.

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Karen Stromberg's avatar

Today I cherish that I survived a heart event, despite overlooked symptoms, test delays, I advocated for myself, called the paramedics, rode in an ambulance to professionals who paid attention. For that I am grateful. And today I released the drama and heartache of having been discounted, ignored and that I survived! Today I smile and enjoy the sun, my beating heart and know to stand firm and insist on life. What is here now is perspective and gratitude. Amen.

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