In recent events in 2024, my Dad became dangerously ill, scaring us and our family with the diagnosis of multiple silent heart attacks brought on by blocked coronary arteries, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and the full onset of diabetes. Through all the worrying and terrifying moments, I’ve learned many lessons about life.

The value of listening.

Listening to understand.

Listening to communicate.

Listening to feel.

Listening to live in the moment.

And listening with your eyes in such a way that you can finally “see” what someone else is experiencing.

The importance of patience.

Patience when others are speaking.

Patience when making space for others to feel how they need to.

Patience in waiting for answers.

And patience with ourselves and others when accepting changes that are necessary.

The importance of time.

Time for sharing.

Time for experiencing.

Time for embracing.

Time for “seeing” those around you.

The limitations of time.

Time in itself is limited.

Limited in the amount of time we have together.

Limited in the number of opportunities we have to feel the warmth of light and a spring breeze on our face.

Limited in the opportunities we have to make our dreams a reality.

Limited in the moments we have with loved ones.

Limited in the opportunities we have to be fully present in life’s most memorable moments.

In the scare of my father’s near deadly heart condition, I learned lessons surrounding the phrase, “before it’s too late”.

Before it’s too late, make the call you’ve been putting off.

Before it’s too late, say what you need to say, in the moment you need to say it.

Before it’s too late, tell them “I love you” one more time.

Before it’s too late, ask yourself if the spiteful argument and hurtful words are necessary.

Before it’s too late, “see” who your loved ones really are and the value they bring.

Before it’s too late, say what your pride and fears have been holding you back from saying.

I learned that this life here is only a temporary home.

A home where we stop for an unknown length of time to live, laugh, love, learn, and leave a legacy.

A home that will forever hold us as a memories when our time runs out, but a home that is not our final purpose

A home that’s merely a stepping stone to where we’re going — a forever home to live for eternity.

A home that some leave much sooner to prepare our eternal home for when the rest of us join.

A home where when we leave we will be guided from by those who’ve gone before us.

So here’s to life.

Here’s to the life that’s given to us.

To the life we get to live each day.

And to the eternal life we’ll live with loved ones one day.