Don't Forget to Live
In the last four years, I have had a few life changing events. My youngest daughter was killed in a car wreck on Thanksgiving Day 2012, my father died in December 2014 just a few days before my birthday. Then this year, I had a heart attack.
After the loss of my daughter, I determined that I would never let life just slip by me again. I've spent a large portion of the last 14 years working away from home in the mining industry. The pay is pretty good; however, I have lost precious time with my family that can never be regained.
I still work away from home. My oldest daughter now has a family with two children of her own. I try to spend as much time with her and them as I can.
The rule is Don't Forget to Live. Don't spend so much time chasing the dollar that we can't enjoy our family and friends. What good is money without family and friends?
I moved back to my home state of Kentucky a few years ago to be near my family. I basically tried to reset my life. So far, it is working out pretty good. My wife and I travel two times a year. Sometimes it is within the U.S. and sometimes we go check out other places.
So far, I have visited two places from my bucket list: Ecuador and Ireland. We are traveling to Aruba this fall. After reading another WA member's profile, I think maybe Puerto Rico next year.
My point is simple: Live life. Take time to spend with family and friends. Prepare for the "rainy days," but don't forget to enjoy life. Don't put things off, you may never get them done.
I have a tendency lately to quote Napoleon Hill, so here is another good one: "Do not wait: the time will never be 'just right'. Start where you stand....."
Wishing you all great success on the journey. Just don't forget to stop and enjoy the view.
**********
Thank you all for your kind comments and show of support.
A few extra things:
Never miss an opportunity to tell those important to you how you feel.
It never hurts to say " I Love You" until you can't say it anymore.
Recent Comments
21
Jim that was a really heart tugging story and I am really sorry for all of your losses. I see that you have been able to take the good from the bad and allow these tragedies help improve your life for the better. As I've even mentioned before, it's sad that it takes loss and tragedy for us to appreciate and value life in a different light. I try to get the most of out stories I hear like this, to focus my life in a different direction and really appreciate the small things in life.
Thank you for sharing your story, It has really touched me :)
I am sorry for your losses and you are right we need to make our time count having time for loved ones and friends are important
WOE you did have a rough few years there. Glad to see that your strong, that you've survived and your moving forward.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Life is so precious......'There is no tomorrow, there is only today'. Have a wonderful weekend!
True. Tomorrow will never come. But in two days, Tomorrow will be Yesterday.
So we do need a plan for what will surely come. We need to act upon the things that we can.
Thank you for sharing such an essential lesson..We are so busy chasing the green eye monster, we forget to enjoy little things..
Good luck with completing your Bucket List, I still have a long one to go..Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Inspiring!
See more comments
Jim, You seem to be a fellow traveler who "gets it". I ran through life solo until I finally met my husband at age 52. I just couldn't settle for someone who didn't understand that there is no up-side to depriving ourselves or those we love of all our love. You can't just dunk your toes into building relationships. It's gotta be an all-in commitment, or it's not really worth much. My personal philosophy is that our purpose on this planet is to spoil one another. second to that...to enjoy the world around us. I'm off now to take your advice and tell my husband that I love him. Cheers, Karen