Thoughts from the Big Apple

The glow of Ground Zero lights fill my hotel room as I walk in tonight. I paused with my hand on the light switch. Instead of turning on the light, I went to the window and looked below. Looked at the hole left, the new construction, the rebuilding beginning. I thought about the last time I stood in this hotel and all I could see was the World Trade Center. I thought of the lives lost, the courage demonstrated that day and the days after, the feeling of unity when we remembered the guiding principles on which this country was built and of those left behind. Those left behind who are rebuilding lives, living for the moment in memory and in honor of those who never came home.

After arriving in NYC, I spent the rest of the day visiting with two good friends. One I have known for 20 years. One I've known for 6 years. Both, in their own way, remind me that life is now. Think about what you are stressing over right now. Take a moment, I'll wait..........Now, is it really worth it? Will it change your life? Will it matter in 10 years? Probably not. Be flexible and bend with the wind. Life is now. Enjoy it - you never know when it could end.

The last few months if asked how things are, I would've said "bleh." I think back now and things were fine. It was me that was "bleh." I LET myself feel that way. I chose the wrong things to stress over. Things I didn't have control over. All that stress didn't do me a damn bit of good. While this year hasn't been a stellar year, life still moved forward. My brother passed away. I'm still sad and a piece of me always will be however he doesn't want me to crawl in a hole and hide. He wants me to go out, have a beer and raise it (and several others after it! LOL) in his honor. Move forward. One of my bestest friends has faded away. Does it hurt? Absolutely. Can I do more than be there when he does want to talk? No. I had a glass of sake in his honor tonight. Move forward. I must learn from life, not let things stop me from enjoying life. Life is a journey. I don't know exactly when it will end. I will make the most of it while it lasts.