As I write this blog, I can’t help but note that today is September 11th. I read something yesterday that I would like to share with you. It has been widely distributed and I’m sorry that I do not know who the original author is.
“On this day... 23 years ago 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning. 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol. 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for the morning shift. None of them saw past 10:00 am Sept 11, 2001. In one single moment life may never be the same. As you live and enjoy the breaths you take today and tonight before you go to sleep in preparation for your life tomorrow, kiss the ones you love, snuggle a little tighter, and never take one second of your life for granted.”
September is also Suicide Awareness Month and yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. Whether or not you have personally been impacted by the suicide of a loved one or friend, no doubt you know someone who has been. I lost both a brother-in-law and a dear friend to the darkness and hopelessness that they were experiencing.
And, within the last month, my dear brother passed away rather unexpectedly, leaving behind siblings, his wife, two children and their respective partners and one precious grandchild. He had just been to the Island with his entire family for a two week visit and had only been home four days when he left us. While he had been battling cancer, he was in remission, and everything was looking very hopeful. His death came far too soon and has left a huge hole in all our hearts.
So, you may be wondering – why am I writing about such sad things? I should be writing about sheep, wool, knitting….
Everyone deals with grief differently. On the morning that I learned of my brother’s passing, there as an electrician here wiring up the shed for wool pellets. I had a workshop scheduled in about an hour’s time – no time to cancel or postpone. I couldn’t close things down – I had to carry on. Rather than tears, I was experiencing grief in the form of anger at the world, and a general lack of motivation. But this was not the face that the world saw. As visitors came through the studio door, they still saw the welcoming smile. As guests came for workshops, I still shared my knowledge with a side offering of lightheartedness.
What’s so important to remember – and what I want to share through this post – is two-fold. Firstly, with whatever life throws at you, be sure to take care of yourself. Find your quiet place – whether that involves a visit to the beach, a hike to enjoy everything that Mother Nature has to offer, or perhaps even picking up your knitting and starting a new project with that special skein of wool that you simply couldn’t resist. Secondly, be kind to one another. You never know what someone might be dealing with. Grief, loss, and stress don’t always manifest themselves in expected ways. That kind word or compliment you give to someone just might have a far greater impact than you realize.
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