Three years ago our life was turned upside down when my husband had a heart attack. Today is our 3-year anniversary with healthy lifestyles! Back at that time, I wrote a newsletter artile that I think holds value today. Keep reading to learn the story.
I have said the phrase "Live Life Now!" many times to my clients and in this newsletter, but it personally means more to me now. My husband had a heart-attack on the evening of January 27, 2007. When he came up from the basement (his "Man Town" so to speak) I knew something was not right. Only a few short minutes later my front hall entryway was filled with four medical professionals and my husband had wires hooked to him all over. It was quite surreal. When they asked me what hospital I wanted to go to, I know I answered but I still did not totally believe what was happening. He was too young for a heart attack!
I did not sleep much those first few nights.
I chose to stay up and watch my husband sleep. As he slept, I could only watch him and think about how close I was to loosing him. I thought about how different my life would have been if we had not been together for the past 14 years. I thought about all of the men and women before me who had lost a loved one early in life. I thought about our five-year-old son and my teen-age step-son. I thought about my parents that made sacrifices to care for our five-year-old and our puppy when we could not.
Then I made a resolution.
I won't let these fears own me, but I am letting them instruct me.
You see, I want to remember my concerns and fears just enough to have them be a jump start to live my life right. I'll use my definition of right, because others may have a different definition. We very rarely get a second chance. I want to be entirely present for every day I have here on earth as a child of God, as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, as a friend and as a consultant. In order to live full and giving lives, we must acknowledge the blessings and gifts that have come our way. Life is fleeting, so we must refuse to waste one precious minute. We can show our thankfulness with actions no matter how small.
That quiet time in the hospital was one of introspection for both my husband and me. We talked for hours and enjoyed just being.
Calm Came
Well, the days and nights went by, and over a week later he was released from the hospital with a confirmation that yes, indeed, he had had a heart attack and we were now beginning our journey of recovery. I am so thankful that he is home and our family is reunited as a unit. I am also so very grateful for the support that we have received from our family, friends, co-workers and the greater Calahan Solutions family - you. Thank you for your support and words of encouragement.
Whether it is the simple action of sending a card with encouraging thoughts, a pat on the back or something more practical, reaching out to others invariably blesses us more than the receiver. Ironically, through lifting up others we, too, are lifted up. What are the gifts you've received? What can you be thankful for and how will you act on that thankfulness?
So, what does all of this have to do with organizing or being more productive?
If your life is clogged down with the "muck" of life, it cannot sprout new growth. If you are to engage in another's life - even if it is someone you are close to - you must first have the space and energy in yourself to do so. Putting order to your life means different things to different people. Why shouldn't it? From the very beginning we were all born different all the way to our fingerprints. Ordering your life means putting systems in place to allow you to focus on your priorities and to have presence of mind and to take action.
May you identify and act on all of the blessings and gifts you've been given. May you choose the big and the small ways, because nothing is really too small. May you welcome the beauty of life no matter how unpredictable it is.
Your Action for Today
Take a moment to be thankful for everything that you have, no matter how simple it is. Next, think of any "muck" that you can remove so that you can focus on what is really important to you. It is amazing how those simple things become so important when you run the risk of losing them.
To your success!
