I have probably written about this time and time again, or you’ve read articles on a similar topic and might be tired of it- but it’s important to me- thus, I hope it will be important and refreshing for some of you as well. From the very beginning, we all have begun our search for the meaning of life. Throughout our life, we experience moments that begin to put our life into perspective, and then we start to think we understand, but little do we comprehend- that the moments that really impact us- are those we never seek out or ask for.
My family experienced the lost of a loved one early 2015. It’s an experience of life that we will learn to come to terms with as the time comes, or maybe we’ll never agree to come to terms with it – but it definitely has a way of putting life into perspective.
This weekend brought about a roller coaster of emotions. Attending my grand fathers funeral and reuniting with family under an unfortunate circumstance has been bittersweet. As we each expressed our last words to my hardworking-sweet-ever-loving grandfather, my heart numbed. Though in tears, I felt comfort as I looked around the room, observing everyone that came in and out of the funeral home to pay respect to him. I eavesdropped in multiple conversations in which they retold stories from the past as well as reminisced on how my grandparents raised six loving children, and how my grandfather always had a bias towards the girls in the family (myself included). I looked all around at my extended family, and smiled because my grandparents have created a loving family of over 20 people: six siblings, a number of grand children, and great grand children on their way- it hit me once again:
“The only thing we really truly have in life is each other, the way we treat one another and the love we share. Each interaction, every emotion we give or don’t give, is a fleeting place and time we can never experience again.”
Each and every breathe we take, every moment we experience, and every day we live, they come and go within the blink of an eye. As the weekend progressed, I had a choice to make. My email, articles I continue to save up to read and most importantly, my school work (even though it’s only the second week) continued to pile up. The more I looked at my schedule and assignments, the more stressed I became- but every time I began to worry- my heart took over and reminded me that I was only in town for a few days. School work is important, but in this moment, the incredible family I’m surrounded by takes priority. By family, I don’t mean simply blood related family, anyone can be family, friends, teammates, sometimes even strangers.
By no means am I suggesting that every time you have to choose between work and family, you should ignore work and choose family – but it’s important to recognize that at the end of our lives, it’s the memories and the love we’ve given that will forever stay in the memories of one another.
Lastly, a brilliant quote from my favorite book and author:
“The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn’t the family. If you don’t have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don’t have much at all. Love is so supremely important. As our great poet Auden said, ‘Love each other or perish’.”
– Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie
Joanne Lam 