Never take life for granted...
Okay. Yeah. So, I haven't posted in over two years, I think. But in light of what happened, I have something to say.
For you non-Lynn-ers - yesterday morning, the world lost a beautiful, smart, talented, young woman, Lauren Casey. I wouldn't necessarily call her a friend of mine, but she was definitely more than an acquaintance. Man, she was so friendly and kind, you couldn't help but like her. Even if you weren't in her group of friends, she was still more than happy to talk with you. She was a just a good person.
I won't go into the details of the accident, but if you don't know what happened or how she touched the world, you can start here:
http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2008/05/23/news/news01.txt
But that's not the exact reason I am writing...
For anyone close to me, they know that I have been struggling with some mental health issues. Many of which bring up thoughts about life versus death. When you are in such a dark state of mind, sometimes death doesn't sound that bad. Sometimes, it seems like an option. You aren't able to see clearly about that really entails... What death really means... Then something like this happens, and it snaps you back.
Death can happen suddenly or it can happen gradually. Neither makes it any easier. They are both permanent. That's it; there's no changing it. Of course, I have always known that. But it doesn't seem real until it is. Until it's staring you in the face.
I have lost people close to me and close to people around me. I even lost a huge light in my life - my grandmother. But it took me until I am faced with such a tragic situation to realize that you can't take life for granted. You just can't. You need to stop with the bullshit. Stop fooling around and live your life. Don't get caught up in insignificant ideas, values, and actions. Make your life mean something. Balance work with social connections with activities that make your life joyful. Do what you need to do and then do what you want to do. Don't let life become nothing but "shoulds" - I should have done that; I should be doing this, etc. Life is too short.
Lauren was 24. Because of the way she lived, her life had meaning. But had she lived, there would be so much there. Her life was cut too short. It was just beginning. There may not be anyway to prevent or predict death, so you have to live life now. Not later. Life a life you can be proud of. Now.
For you non-Lynn-ers - yesterday morning, the world lost a beautiful, smart, talented, young woman, Lauren Casey. I wouldn't necessarily call her a friend of mine, but she was definitely more than an acquaintance. Man, she was so friendly and kind, you couldn't help but like her. Even if you weren't in her group of friends, she was still more than happy to talk with you. She was a just a good person.
I won't go into the details of the accident, but if you don't know what happened or how she touched the world, you can start here:
http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2008/05/23/news/news01.txt
But that's not the exact reason I am writing...
For anyone close to me, they know that I have been struggling with some mental health issues. Many of which bring up thoughts about life versus death. When you are in such a dark state of mind, sometimes death doesn't sound that bad. Sometimes, it seems like an option. You aren't able to see clearly about that really entails... What death really means... Then something like this happens, and it snaps you back.
Death can happen suddenly or it can happen gradually. Neither makes it any easier. They are both permanent. That's it; there's no changing it. Of course, I have always known that. But it doesn't seem real until it is. Until it's staring you in the face.
I have lost people close to me and close to people around me. I even lost a huge light in my life - my grandmother. But it took me until I am faced with such a tragic situation to realize that you can't take life for granted. You just can't. You need to stop with the bullshit. Stop fooling around and live your life. Don't get caught up in insignificant ideas, values, and actions. Make your life mean something. Balance work with social connections with activities that make your life joyful. Do what you need to do and then do what you want to do. Don't let life become nothing but "shoulds" - I should have done that; I should be doing this, etc. Life is too short.
Lauren was 24. Because of the way she lived, her life had meaning. But had she lived, there would be so much there. Her life was cut too short. It was just beginning. There may not be anyway to prevent or predict death, so you have to live life now. Not later. Life a life you can be proud of. Now.