March 21: Be the person today you want to be remembered for when you are gone.

I once attended a funeral for a guy I went to Junior High and High School with.  I wanted to share a few things I remember about him:

The last time I actually saw Kent was years ago when I was working at Superstition Springs mall.  It had been a couple of years since we had all graduated High School.  He came up to me with a big smile on his face and we spoke together of the good old days.

When we were kids he was full of jokes, usually of the inappropriate persuasion.  He was full of energy and always joking around.  I remember that at that difficult, awkward, and sometimes uncomfortable stage we all lived through called being a teenager, he was one of the few that seemed so unconditionally accepting.  I remember he made me feel okay being just me.  I remember him as being accepting and inclusive.
My wife told me an embarrassing story that happened with him.  I won’t share the story, but I’ll share what she said about Kent:  “He had every right and opportunity to embarrass me, but he never told anyone what happened.  That made him cool in my eyes.”

Kent was worth knowing and he will be missed by many.  We didn’t know each other as well as we could have, but what I remember about Kent is the way he made me feel.  I’m grateful to have good memories of him.  The more good people we have in our lives, the better.

It may seem a bit morbid or inappropriate to say something like, “I enjoy going to funerals,” but let me explain:

The only parts I enjoy about funerals are the people that come together to celebrate the life of a loved one and reminders that are bound to come along with any funeral such as the fact that we are all mortal, time is short, and that from here on out I must remember and constantly remind myself that every second counts.  Every minute matters.  It begs the questions: “How am I going to live today to benefit myself and others?  How do I want to be remembered when I die?  How can I leave others each day feeling better than when I found them?”

I believe that when people die, their energy or spirit or soul, or whatever else you want to call it, lives on.  I believe our energies are all interconnected.  I believe we are all a part of this life experience together, as a part of the ONE WHOLE.  I think that whenever we think of our lost ones, they are present.  The idea comforts me and maybe that is why I believe it, but when I think of the loved ones I’ve lost so far I don’t mourn their loss.  Rather, I am grateful to have known them, and I try to only focus on the positive, memorable experiences I remember having with them.   I focus on how knowing them blessed my life and made mine better, and it makes me want to do the same for others.

Death is inevitable.  It will happen to all of us, and in the eternal scheme of things, death is coming soon.  What are you going to do today to live well while you are still here?  Who are you going to reach out to and love and help with the realization that you just won’t be around that much longer?

Death is a reminder for us all that puts everything back into perspective.  Tell your people you love them.  Be more patient.  Be more loving.  Turn off the tv and put the phone down and interact with the people that are most important to you now, while you still can.

Reminder to self:  Be the best possible version of yourself you can be every day.  Make every second count.  Make every minute matter.  Be the person today you want to be remembered as, when you are gone.

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Remember:  Mindset matters.  Character counts.  That which we choose to consistently focus on is what EXPANDS in our lives.  WE CREATE our personal realities.