Today I Lost a Friend

Today I Lost a Friend

By Gloria Schmitt

Today I learned that a good friend had passed away yesterday.   I had just spoken to his family days ago to find out how he was feeling as he was diagnosed with stage four cancer six months earlier.   His son (my oldest son’s best friend) said they had prepared him for at home hospice and that the doctors had given him 6-8 weeks but that he was resting comfortably.   Three days later he was gone.    As you could expect, my family and I did not take the news well.   John was a kind, caring, generous husband, father, friend and employer who will be truly missed. 

After the tears, his loss got me thinking about the many people who come and go in our lives – even those for just a short period of time - who have touched us profoundly in some way.  With the hustle and bustle of this thing we call life we often forget to tell them how much they have touched us and to reiterate how their kind words or gestures were meaningful.   Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so take the opportunity to show someone they are loved, appreciated, admired, respected and needed today.

Mo Anderson, Keller Williams Realty’s beloved Vice Chairman of the Board always reminds us that if you don’t give (and hopefully receive) seven hugs a day, “things get weird”.   When you think about it, a hug is a simple but powerful gesture that communicates to another that you care.  If you can’t find the words, give a hug!  Expressing your feelings should never take second place to anything else going on. 

Losing someone doesn’t always mean death; it could mean you had a falling out and are too prideful to pick up the phone to reconnect.  Maybe you just lost touch and do not know how to re-establish the relationship.  Whatever the case, don’t let life’s distractions prevent you from building lasting relationships.  “Spend time with those you love.  One of these days you will say either, I wish I had or I’m glad I did” (Zig Ziglar).

I am sending you each a virtual hug …. If you took the time to read this blog, thank you – you have touched my life in a positive way J