This one life…
I don’t post photos of myself often, but I love this one because one of my closest friends took it and it was taken in one of my closest friend’s home. That part makes me love it!
This last year has been a roller coaster of emotions and feelings for me. I’m someone who feels hard. When I am happy, I’m wildly happy and when I am sad, I try and honor that and just let those feelings work their own kind of magic.
Feelings are so cool, right?
This summer my sweet sister had to have a life-saving operation to repair her cracked c1 and c2 vertebra. It was scary and upsetting and the weeks leading up to the surgery and after made me think hard about what matters most in life to me now. Family and Friends and Faith were top of that list. Everything you own or think you want melts when you see someone you love confronted with such life altering decisions.
My sister is someone to know and love.
She lives about an hour away from me, so her friends did the bulk of caring for her prior to her surgery. She was unable to do anything for herself. Her community support was something to witness. Three of her close friends, without hesitation, stayed with her for months around the clock. Caring for her in a way that honestly lifted my heart and spirit. The world we live in is messy and full of hard stuff, but seeing her friends care for her and watching them navigate this time, was awe inspiring. The surgery was here in Greenville, so I spent a lot of time with her in the ten days she was in the hospital. Seeing her determination to walk and live on her own again all while keeping her amazing humor in tack, just humbled me.
Geez, the simple things we all take for granted.
She was lucky. We had a great surgeon and team. And great care after the hospital with therapists and caregivers. We have a good friend from childhood who’s a retired nurse and her insights and knowledge were beyond helpful. I would even say her help saved my sister’s life.
I’m talking about you Tammy.
I will never ever get over the kindness of her caretakers. And I will never take the healthcare industry for granted again, ever. So many angels among us.
My sister is doing well. She’s living independently again. And the tough stuff is almost behind her.
I’ve often read that strong community and social connections are part of leading a long healthy life. Seeing that in action with my sister, well, it really was a great reminder. Like my sister, I’m blessed with a strong network of friends. I love them madly and they make me feel loved. Keeping close friends is work sometimes. It’s saying yes when you’d rather say no. It’s having deep conversations. It requires listening hard and most of all it requires time and trust.
The other great reminder and gift my sister gave me this summer is also simple.
Life is so short.
It can be taken from us in a heartbeat. So, love hard, see the beauty all around you, laugh every time you get a chance, don’t worry about the money, eat the ice cream, dance with wild abandon in your kitchen to music you love, take the trip, celebrate all of it, every single day.
I hope you take some time today to honor your loved ones for all they have done and all they are willing to do. I hope you jump off Facebook, put on some music and just dance. Or call someone and tell them you love them. In a world of social injustices that rips at the seams of our souls, let’s remember the good people and things worth celebrating in our lives.
If you are reading this, know…
I love you madly…Robbin
