We are having a chat after the CrossFit workout and I tell the girls I have started yet another intensive French course. I've been dreading it because it wipes me out and it is such hard work... Yes, I guess I am complaining a bit to these girls... Then one of the girls tells me she is devastated as she lost all her French knowledge when she had her stroke before Christmas.
"STROKE?!?"
"Yes. Didn't you know? I thought everybody knew..."
This woman is 42 with two boys aged 10 and 12. Reality check big time... One night her husband found her in a bad state in bed and it was a stroke. She was lucky. No serious side effects other than a set back on her fine motor skill. She suffers from tiredness and is a bit post stroke depressed... We laugh about the fact that she lost most of her French knowledge and we make jokes about how the brain prioritize in its own way... Obviously French is not on the top 10 priority list in her brain world. :) Ha ha ha! We joke about this because that is what we do when we don't really know how to deal with something super serious... Humor can be a saviour.
She tells me all this and I am speechless. My brain starts to work overload. Life is so fragile. Why oh why do we take it for granted? Why oh why do we procrastinate so much? Why oh why do I sigh, bitch and complain about all those dreadful daily chores? And my French course for that matter...??? Why oh why do I live in the past or in the future instead of right here? Right now!
Make your dreams come true before it is to late. I admire people with that wonderful drive of making ideas into reality. I admire people who are "doers" and who get things done. I admire people who see the joy of the small things. Who smiles and make you feel good with their positive outlook on life. But for a dreamer like me it takes a lot of effort to become a doer... I need a real honest and quite hard kick in my bottom to get going, to say the least...
I took her story with me home. I took her words on board. Don't wait until tomorrow. Surround yourself with people and things you love. And love every minute right here and right now. No one knows when it is time to go...
Who cares if the laundry was done when you go? Who cares if the shelves were dusted? Who cares if the hallway were tidy? And who cares about tangled up yarn in baskets and a messy attic? And of course these things can't be ignored but we can enjoy them more. We do what we have to do but more importantly we do what we want to do too. In the moment it can all become simple pleasures - right here, right now.
Kärlek
Annette
"STROKE?!?"
"Yes. Didn't you know? I thought everybody knew..."
This woman is 42 with two boys aged 10 and 12. Reality check big time... One night her husband found her in a bad state in bed and it was a stroke. She was lucky. No serious side effects other than a set back on her fine motor skill. She suffers from tiredness and is a bit post stroke depressed... We laugh about the fact that she lost most of her French knowledge and we make jokes about how the brain prioritize in its own way... Obviously French is not on the top 10 priority list in her brain world. :) Ha ha ha! We joke about this because that is what we do when we don't really know how to deal with something super serious... Humor can be a saviour.
She tells me all this and I am speechless. My brain starts to work overload. Life is so fragile. Why oh why do we take it for granted? Why oh why do we procrastinate so much? Why oh why do I sigh, bitch and complain about all those dreadful daily chores? And my French course for that matter...??? Why oh why do I live in the past or in the future instead of right here? Right now!
Make your dreams come true before it is to late. I admire people with that wonderful drive of making ideas into reality. I admire people who are "doers" and who get things done. I admire people who see the joy of the small things. Who smiles and make you feel good with their positive outlook on life. But for a dreamer like me it takes a lot of effort to become a doer... I need a real honest and quite hard kick in my bottom to get going, to say the least...
I took her story with me home. I took her words on board. Don't wait until tomorrow. Surround yourself with people and things you love. And love every minute right here and right now. No one knows when it is time to go...
Who cares if the laundry was done when you go? Who cares if the shelves were dusted? Who cares if the hallway were tidy? And who cares about tangled up yarn in baskets and a messy attic? And of course these things can't be ignored but we can enjoy them more. We do what we have to do but more importantly we do what we want to do too. In the moment it can all become simple pleasures - right here, right now.
Kärlek
Annette
What an inspiring post. I sit here complaining about trivial matters when I should be focusing on the joyful things. Today I will live more in the moment and celebrate what I have rather than what I wish I had. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDear Annette,
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing this story! It's quite an eye-opener and I think I'm going to read it multiple times because there's a big lesson to learn from it I think. Enjoy every minute of the day, that's a line for me. I don't enjoy everything as much as I would and should but I'm already working on that. Enjoy your day as much as you can ;-).
Sweet greetings,
Emily
(casacreaemilia.blogspot.nl)
ps. Good luck with your Frensh course. ;-)
I totally get this being a dreamer too. I often wonder if I just 'waste' time being in dreamland so much.....and someone said once that I must really dislike my life if I am always dreaming about stuff. I wouldn't say that at all. I am quite happy with my lot. Yes, there is always a little more that you could want or be happy with, but I think that's just human nature, built into our make up....otherwise as a race we would never have come so far if we didn't dream of wanting something more! It's maybe about balance, but mostly about, like you say, making the most of things, enjoying things, and making sure that people know what they mean to you.
ReplyDeleteI've learnt life is precious, and it's better to say things instead of hold them in, as who knows what tomorrow holds? I reckon, if you make the effort to do that in your life, then it's fine to still be a dreamer!!!!!!! xxxxx
This is something I need to remember more often, it's so easy to become distracted by everyday annoyances and lose sight of what's important. I'll try to be more aware and live for the moment!x
ReplyDeleteI'm just like you, always living in the past or future. I'm also trying to to change, but its hard and old habits die hard.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your friend and what she has been through, I hope she makes a full recovery, it sounds as if she is doing well so far. Your words about dreaming and doing resonated with me. I'm a dreamer not a doer as well. I shall carry your message with me today and make a start on some things that I've been prevaricating over. " Make your dreams come true before it is too late". Thank you for your inspirational post Annette, it was very well timed. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm a dreamer too...
ReplyDeleteI had my own reality check earlier this year and I have to say that it was just what I needed to live my life just all around better and happier. I'm sorry this happened to your friend....
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Annette. I am so glad she recovered. A stroke took my Dad last year, they are so devastating. We truly do need to treasure every precious moment, my family and friends seem more important than ever since losing Dad. x
ReplyDeleteOh wow - I now get the title of your post - how scary!
ReplyDeleteBut I agree - we only live once, and so should make the most of every moment!
Human nature I guess, I try to live more in the moment and not take things for granted. But sometimes it gets forgotten with the hustle and bustle of everyday chores and such. Thankfully it wasn't any worse for your friend.
ReplyDeleteGosh quite a wake up call, really glad your friend is recovering well, and she is so right, we never know what's round the corner.
ReplyDeleteHope the french is going okay :)
Jillxo
I'm sorry to hear about your friend but what an inspiring post. Sending love
ReplyDeleteThis is all so very true. Like toy I am a procrastinator and at times it makes me so frustrated. I've suffered from fibromyalgia for nearly ten years now and I'm always so worried that if I do one thing then I won't have the energy to do other stuff like cooking or cleaning. Like that stuff really matters. I really wish I could just shake some sense into myself sometimes.
ReplyDeleteRosie
An inspirational post, thank you Annette xx
ReplyDeletether are many stories like that. you are right, we need to be happy from the smoll things and to do what we love to do and need to do with love.
ReplyDeletegran verdad, vamos postergando las cosas esperando un mañana que quizas no llegara,yo tambien cuando espero resultados de pruebas medicas pienso y si es ahora ya.......
ReplyDelete