The veil of confusion gently falls away,
Like the dank mist on a dull autumn day.
Revealing the path that lies there before me,
To step forward or not, what will it be?
-Gabriella Goddard
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being at one of my dearest friends college graduation. The pride I felt for her and of her was something I didn't even feel at my own graduation. At the time, for many of us, we get too caught up in the here and now to revel in what we've accomplished... to take in the journey we have finally completed... for many of us, it's just a day and only years later when you have the chance to look back and remember it do we see the significance in our lives.
It's not just 4 years worth of cramming for tests and finagling an intravenous coffee drip onto our bed posts that does it. It's not the "extra long sheets" and the late night parties and the walks around campus that matters. It's not JUST any of this. No. It IS this. It's the memories we've created, the intelligence we've garnered. It's the lessons we've learned that shaped who we've become. It's the mistakes we've made that have made us stronger. It's the Fish Fests, the hockey games, the beer pong, the laughs, the 3am Skyline runs, delivery beer & pizza, and the never ending nagging of professors. It's these things and so much more that I am thankful for today. Without them, I question who I would have become. Who would any of us be if we didn't have the pleasure and the freedom to experience the good and the bad and to learn from it all?
"If running is difficult, run more." -Says every runner on this planet.
(In it's truth, this can be applied to anything in life. Keep learning, keep growing, keep changing and most importantly, keep pushing.)
A really amazing couple, the parents of said valuable friend above, made a huge impact on me back when I was visiting. While they hold their beliefs and values close to their hearts, they are very pragmatic and respectful of the views held by others. The one common theme of any advice they could share was to "live your life authentically." While visiting, I heard them say this over and over again. At the time, I heard it as just another religious saying, another way to live your life devoted to a higher being. Having had time to reflect on this and seeing the life that I've been living, I know what it means to live your life authentically.
Don't be somebody that you aren't. Know who you are down to your deepest soul, to your biggest toe, to your weakest muscle. Be genuine in what you do, in what you say. Tell him you love him as if the word had been marinating in your heart. Apply your learnings, both from books & the street, to your everyday life and always continue to seek new knowledge. This is what living life authentically means... to me. To you? Perhaps it means to raise your children to the best of your abilities or to follow Christ's direction without falter. It can mean so much to so many people but in the end, it's simple: Be the type of person you should be, caring, respectful, loving. Act with intention and intelligence.
“We have to dare to be ourselves,
however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.”
-May Sarton
Just this morning a second person in my life told me to "live your life authentically." This came at the news of losing a past co-worker suddenly. She was 35 years old-- not old enough to be sick, to be hurting, to be anything but enjoying her life. Yet, in the matter of days she went from sick to passing away.
I handle death relatively well. But this time, it made my stomach clench. I felt sick beyond belief. Was it because she passed away? Because I missed her? It was because I didn't take the time to stay in touch with her like I should have. And because this can happen to anyone, at any time, we should all live our lives authentically. The saying really is true, tomorrow may never come.
To Alissa, you sweet, funny, animal-loving woman: I am thankful for the time we had together. I am more thankful for the opportunity I had to get to know you AFTER you left Cox. I hope that whatever pain you felt, if any, is no longer a burden on you. To your friends and family, I hope they can find strength in each other, cry together and remember you for who you were: one incredible woman with a story to tell.
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