Over the past week since I've made it "official" that I'm leaving Edmonton I've had a lot of people share their kind words and fond memories with me, and I with them. Some of these people I've known before my time in Edmonton; they've made their way here also, either before or after I did. Others are those who I've had the pleasure of meeting here in Edmonton; these folks are few, but extremely high caliber. The words we've exchanged, well, they got me to thinking. Why is it that we tend to only share our fondest memories and most sincere appreciation for the people in our lives only when we're afraid that we're losing them? Most commonly, we think of this scenario when it's associated with death. Since my leaving Edmonton has become public, however, I've been experiencing this both in my professional and personal life.
How hard is it to take thirty seconds out of your day to share your appreciation for what ever it is someone brings into your life?
I've had co-workers share with me how much they appreciate all the hard work I've done for them on projects, or how much they'll miss me around the office, or having me on projects because they find it easy to work with me, or how disappointed they are because they had me in mind for a specific project because they saw in me certain skills and qualities that made me the ideal candidate.
I've had friends reminisce with me about the times we've shared together - some recent times, while others go back to the time we first met. People take their turns, each sharing what it is about me that they like having around (not to say there aren't times when they'd rather that I was not around, though! haha). One friend recalled, "I remember when we first met, we were sitting on the balcony overlooking the ravine and talking about our lives... then and there I knew we were going to be great friends." And we were. And we are. And we always will be. Sometimes you just know. "I'm going to miss you," they say - and they mean it, and it means so much to me to hear those words. And I'll miss them so much - so genuinely much.
Then, the question arises: Why did this all have to wait until now? Now, I'm not saying I would have changed my mind had my co-workers expressed their appreciation and reliance on me more, or had my friends more openly shared their reasons for wanting me to stick around. But, in the day-to-day happenings of our lives, why do we find it so hard to share just how much someone means to us? We find all the time in the world to complain about how we slept so poorly the night before, or how our kids (or dogs in most of my friends cases) were up sick all night, or how we just wish the day were over, etc. We openly wish our time away with these people, when we should be inviting every moment to be the best moment possible with them. Why can't we take thirty seconds to share our appreciation for that person. It can even come in the form of, "Ya know, I've just been having a really rough time lately. I'm so glad that I have you in my life. I can always count on you and I'm so thankful for that."
Thirty seconds.
After coming to this realization I've decided that for the rest of my life - and especially during these transient times when I feel I require so much more support from those I've allowed into my life and who've allowed me into theirs - I'm going to express my appreciation every chance I get. Whether you're a co-worker, a family member, an acquaintance or a best friend - you are in my life for a reason and I should share with you whenever I can just how much I appreciate you.
Do I have you thinking yet?
Chances are, if you're reading this right now, you fit into one of those categories so let me take a moment and fulfill my new-found resolution with a quote by Melody Beattie:
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for toady, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You've all made my house a home. Not the house where I keep my groceries and my clothes, but the house inside of me where my little voice lives. My little voice thanks you too, by the way. She wasn't ready to die - she's only twenty-four, you know.
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