You’re alive.
You’re breathing.
You’re here.
Are you living?
-Self Check
Poet – Pierre Alex Jeanty
What a gift life is.
Of course we all know that right. Or do we….
Full disclaimer, it’s personal storytelling time, and I hope you will indulge me a little as I recount moments of the last few weeks.
You may have seen (or heard) on my recent social media, that I took time off to be with my family as we went through Sorry Business. In case you aren’t aware, Sorry Business, is a term First Nations people refer to when a beloved one has passed.
And like many, the only way to deal with this type of tragedy like this is to feel it. Deeply feel it. Yet, in my family, I stepped into the role of the person who is dependable in times like these. This began after the passing of my Grandfather, a number of years ago.
Dependable meaning – the organiser.
I can’t actually recall HOW this role became mine, but it is one that take on with a lot of certainty and conviction. Because I choose to bear the weight of what needs to be done, so that my family can grieve without the stress and worry of all the processes that are required to be done, up to and including burial.
And it wasn’t until I had stepped behind the coffin, to walk behind my Aunts, as they carried my Uncle in at the church, that I shed my very first tears.
As we sat in the church pews, I saw and heard my loved ones, my family and all the friends of my Uncle, as they cried tears of hurt, pain and loss at his passing, and I thought to myself – this man IS loved. Truly loved.
We left nothing unsaid.
We gave him flowers (we knew he hated flowers, but his sisters chose natives, so he should forgive us for tis indiscretion).
We played his favourite country songs (even though the Church was a little strict in their hymn selection allowance).
We watched photos of him scroll through his years on this Earth.
And we shared his life story, shared to us by his older brother.
And as we said our ‘good-byes’ to him, I knew that he was ready to meet and yarn with all the family and our Ancestors before him, on his entrance to The Dreaming.
And here is where things get better…..
We will be forever grateful that our lives were touched by his.
What a GIFT he is.
So the Self Check poem at the beginning by Pierre Alex Jeanty, I hope is a reminder to you.
A reminder to live your life, till your cup overflows.
Leave nothing undone.
Be kind, always.
Make magical moments and print them.
And to love with the greatest depths of your heart.
Thank you for being here in my little corner of the world, Friend xoxo
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Melissa xoxo
