tribute to one of my companions and the fragility of life

“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.”

– Albert Schweitzer

I have been fortunate to love, appreciate and rely upon cats and music to add a softer quality to my life; especially at times when so much of what I see each day seems so harsh, loud and at odds with what feels natural to me.

A couple of weeks ago one of my precious companions received her wings of freedom from a body which seemed to rapidly betray her for little more than a week. My sweet Piper had been a part of my life for twelve years.

 

Truly the precious gift of life is something that we take for granted every day. Every day. I spent many hours sitting with my little girl in the last days of her life. I did not run errands; I did not busy myself so I didn’t have to be upset or stressed about what was happening. I chose to be present to what was happening and to the sweet little girl who had been a close companion for so long. I was reminded in those moments of the fragility and temporary nature of life in these bodies. We forget this every day. Every day.

We allow ourselves to be pulled into the milieu and we forget who we are. Remembering who we are, why we are here, whom we love, how we love and whether we are even present to those we care deeply about are among the most important reasons why we have air in our lungs, and heartbeats to keep us alive. We forget this every day. Every day.

Life can be softer when we remember and choose to live it that way. We forget this every day. Every day.

We allow stress to rob us of our very being every day. Every day.

We become so busy with thoughts that take us away from our presence to the people who are in our midst and who love us that we miss the very essence of our lives, our most important relationships every day. Every day.

Today, I am thinking of those who are in the process of letting go of loved ones who have been in their lives for many years.

Let us remember the fragility and temporary nature of life. We are here for a short time. Create time to soften…to breathe…to walk in nature…to remember to listen deeply…to love presently.

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain’t nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to
The top of the hill
But since we’re on our way down
We might as well enjoy the rideThe secret of love is in opening up your heart
It’s okay to feel afraid
But don’t let that stand in your way
’cause anyone knows that love is the only road
And since we’re only here for a while
Might as well show some style
Give us a smile

Isn’t it a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride

Now the thing about time is that time
Isn’t really real
It’s just your point of view
How does it feel for you
Einstein said he could never understand it all
Planets spinning through space
The smile upon your face
Welcome to the human race

Some kind of lovely ride
I’ll be sliding down
I’ll be gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride

Isn’t it a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride

Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time

– James Taylor