I don’t even know where to start.
Seriously, my heart is so full that it feels like it might burst…
Today I got an email from a friend of mine (A.), whose sister (G.) was seriously injured while in a developing country roughly six weeks ago. G. is now living with A. and her husband, as she fractured her neck and requires serious physical therapy near where they live. Despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, they push on, humbled and grateful (#401).
It’s the understatement of the century to say that their family has had an unbelievably trying month and a half, but their unending strength and unwavering support for each other (#402) in the midst of such mind-boggling trials is nothing short of phenomenal. But what’s truly phenomenal is that they see nothing phenomenal about it (#403).
“It’s been a really difficult time,” A. told me. “But it actually isn’t all that terrible – I have a great husband, a wonderful dog, awesome friends and a good job where people are unbelievably kind.” I already think A.’s story is amazing, but when she said that I was left speechless.
In short, A. and I had a long chat today about focusing on others (and their struggles and contributions) and being grateful when your world comes crashing in. And that’s when she forwarded me her blog about the experience, which I wept upon reading (again and again). I’m so grateful for and humbled by her writing in the wake of these experiences (#404) and grateful to know people like her.
So much of what she has to say in her blog will blow your mind, but the picture above (#405), one of G.’s favorites and the excerpt below (#406) are particularly astonishing (emphases mine):
I end this as I end all posts with a thank you. Thank you to those of you who are by our sides for each milestone, each checkpoint. Indeed, the moments of our life are made to pass us by, to keep moving even when we want to hold on. But the people, not the moments are where we live. The people around us are where we build our legacies and store our memories and learn our lessons on love and kindness and cruelty and loss. In this last month, I think that we all have taken immense comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Comfort in knowing that we are on this journey with our family, our partners, our friends, with caregivers and colleagues and kind strangers. Whether individual moments or the greater arc of life, we are in it together.
What in the world could be more beautiful and permanent than that?
And that’s what I leave you with this weekend: 6 incredible reasons.
-Me