Thoughtful Thursday: What’s really important in life?

Sadly, this week we found ourselves attending the funeral of a long-time friend, someone whose family and friends have been left to grieve, especially her husband, for whom life can never be the same.  Sadly as well, this is the 5^th funeral or celebration of life I’ve been to in the past 6 months, and it would have been 6 if a gathering had been held for another dear friend.  I don’t say this to be a downer; this is the reality for someone – like me – who is closer to 80 than 70.  Lives have a beginning and lives have an end, and the ending part is inevitable, regardless of how well and how long we live.  But as I watched yet another bereft family trying to keep their heads held high as they – the deceased’s husband, children, and grandchildren – walked past the congregation to their seats at the front, I reminded myself that although we don’t have control over the fact that our lives are indeed finite, we do have some measure of control over how we choose to live the years that we are given.

I got to thinking about what might be the most important habit we humans can practice to contribute to our own sense of well-being and also bring happiness to others as we lead our lives. Something we can share with another person or share broadly.  For me, the answer was a simple one, and something this world could stand a lot more of: KINDNESS.  Practice the habit of kindness.

As a small example, a smile and a thank-you to the person serving you at the grocery store or donut shop may make all the difference to that server on that particular day.  And you’re giving yourself a gift at the same time, the gift of that life-affirming sense of connection with another human being.

Life is precious … and finite. Make it count.