Not taking things for granted

Over the weekend the world of motor sports lost not 1, but 3, drivers in race crashes. 1 an IndyCar champ, and 2 off road racers. The world is smaller and a bit dimmer today because of the 3 lives lost. They will be remembered and their passion for living will live on in the lives of everyone who was blessed to know them or those of us touched by the tragedies.

The most important lesson from this is they didn't take life for granted. They knew they weren't invincible, knew the risks involved, and yet approached life with passion and sincere appreciation for what they had been blessed with. They simply lived their lives in each and every moment with an exuberance that many don't understand.

Many of us only acknowledge those who mean the most to us when a tragedy like this happens. It leaves us feeling vulnerable about our own mortality. It's easy to get into the rhythm of day to day living, taking for granted that those who mean so much to us already know how we feel, only to be shocked, hurt and angry when tragedy strikes someone close to us. We begin to think about all of the "what if's" and "why didn't I" comments that swirl constantly in our minds. "What if I had been able to say goodbye? Would it still hurt this much? Why didn't I reach out more often to catch up on what's happening?" These profound questions lead to an empty space in our hearts after the fact - but if they are thought of and acted upon before a tragedy strikes, they can be extremely comforting when we ultimately have to deal with the grief of losing someone whose light has burned out before their time.

The only "cost" associated in reaching out to someone to tell them how much you care is the time  you take to make that connection. All relationships, regardless of how rocky or strong, benefit when you put a voice to your thoughts. Taking for granted that your friends "know" how you feel can lead to strained relationships that sometimes gradually fade away due to lack of effort to keep them fresh and strong.

What if you chose to reach out to 3 people every week?  Just a quick "Hi, just wanted to see how you are." What if that encourages your 3 people to reach out to 3 different people, and on and on? The potential impact of how many people are contacted and touched is amazing!

Everyone wants to be remembered and thought of...it's up to us as friends, family and colleagues to remember to reach out and touch the lives of those we care about. That's what living life is really all about.

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