Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snowflake. – Francis Bacon Sr.
My gorgeous 33-year-old cousin died on Friday morning the 20th of May. Stomach cancer. It was far too soon, far too sad.
Each time I face death, I realize that life is not eternal, but love is. Each time I say goodbye for the last time, I realize how precious and fragile this moment is.
I have learned to wake up to the morning sky and bow in gratefulness for another day and another chance to love.
You will forever be in my heart beautiful Jarrad.
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
I’m very sorry for your loss Karen. May you continue to receive comfort.
Thankyou Nico. 🙏🏻
Oh, Karen.
What a lovely young man. He looks like he would be as beautiful inside as he is outside. Grief so sucks in so many ways. But it takes us to such a deep place of appreciation for the relationship, and there is a closeness to the person during grief that feels contracting, but ends up being so heart expanding. I am so sorry for your loss, Karen, and thank you for the reminder about how precious life is. ❤
Holding you in my heart,
Mary
Thankyou my friend. I can feel the peace and freedom of his spirit and this makes me glad. I will miss him dearly, we spoke all the time. I do have a deep appreciation as you say, and will live fully for him.
I am so sorry for loss Karen. 33 is so young. Life is brief and love is eternal, as you said so beautifully in your post. Jarrad watches over you now from above. Hugs. ❤
Diana xo
He does, and he is finally out of pain and free. Thankyou Diana for your support.
We are all just here to walk each other home Karen. Sometimes you walk me and sometimes I walk you. ❤
So true Diana. 💚💚
Karen, I hit like while I was reading that quote – so beautiful and true. Then I read about your cousin. I’m so sorry; such a beautiful young man! ❤ Hugs.
It was the perfect quote. Thankyou Jennifer, he was beautiful.
*respectful silence* _/\_
Thankyou Hariod.
Wow. So young. So sad. So sorry.
Yes too sad. Thankyou Dave.
Stepping outside, to open my chest and release a dove, that will fly and fly and never rest until it reaches the center of the sun itself.
Absolutely beautiful Michael. Thankyou.
Oh Karen, I, too, am so sorry for your loss. The quote elicited a ‘like,’ and then I saw the post and felt such sadness. A beautiful young man, gone much, much too soon. Must. Treasure. Every. Day. It becomes increasingly clear with every passing moment…
I love that quote too Lori. It does become very clear over time, and the more we treasure this moment, the more we honor those who could not. Thankyou for your kind comment.
I am so sorry. Yes,, he was far too young. I still remember my shock about fifteen years ago when my cousin, then in his early fifties, died very suddenly. There is no getting over it, only learning to live with it. Big hug to you.
Thankyou Emilie. Acceptance of early death is over a lifetime. To know he is finally out of pain, gives me peace.
Karen, So sorry for your loss. You speak the truth of a most sorrowful circumstance in a most beautiful way. “We only understand love when we lose the one who is the object of that love.” – G.K. Chesterton
-Alan
Thankyou Alan and for your beautiful quote. I have not seen that before.
I’m glad it brought you some comfort.
-Alan
I’m sorry for your loss Karen and it is tough to loose beloved souls.
It is Irene. He was a special soul. 💚💚
So sorry for your loss… He is so young…
Thankyou Amy. Yes too young to leave us but unfortunately, we don’t get to choose when. 💜
So sorry for your loss, Karen. How sad to have lost him so young. I hope he found peace at the end, and that all of the loved ones that he left behind somehow find the same. Namaste.
Thankyou Eliza. He was at peace and surrounded in love. He will be missed. Namaste.
I’m sorry for your loss, Karen. Your remembrance of Jarrad is a gift — a reminder to the rest of us to appreciate each day.
Thankyou MK. It is a gift to live in presence. 💚
What a very, very sad loss Karen ~ which makes this post so much more powerful. The stress I’ve felt with work absolutely vanished as I read this…”We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snowflake.” How true. Beautifully true, as there is nothing more special and being touch by someone (as well as giving the same), even if it is just for a brief moment. Essential that we think about this simple but often forgot treasure we have every day. Thank you and wish you a all your family well.
Thankyou Randall. I often say “If I was going to die today would this matter?” It’s not that I don’t feel stressed or busy, but I think if we can call ourselves back into perspective each day, we may find we stress less, and appreciate each and every moment we have here. Have a wonderful calm week and thankyou for your kind thoughts.
You are so right ~ perspective adds a quality to the day that we’d otherwise miss. So very important, but not easy to remember to do 🙂 Thank you!
Yes it’s definitely a practice for us all! 🙂
We have shared many comments involving many lives and their endings. Each creates heartfelt pain but also creates lifelong moments of wonderful memories. I am sorry for your loss and hope your grieving helps heal the hurting soul.
Thankyou Jonathan. Understanding death on a deeper level now, I am grieving differently this time and perhaps more lightly. I will miss him but as you say will have lifelong memories.
Such a beautiful post Karen. His spirit lives on in hearts who knew him .. And many more through you.💕
Thankyou Val for your beautiful comment. 💜💜
I’m so sorry for your loss, sending you prayers
Thankyou Reena . I appreciate your thoughts 🌸
I am so very sorry for your loss. xxx
Thankyou I appreciate your thoughts. 💚💚
Death seems so much harder to handle when it happens to someone so young and with so much promise. Sorry for your loss. It does remind us to not take life for granted and live each day with purpose.
Thankyou Keith. I appreciate your thoughts and being here.
May writing help ease the pain for you and others who are journeying through life and death.
I’m very sorry for your loss, Karen. 33 years old, yikes, that’s very young. Quite frightening to read about it. People don’t really know what their body got til it hit them hard. Sad news, Karen. He does look like someone who has more to give. Life truly is beautiful, but fragile.
Thankyou Rommel. It is a sad time but it helps me remember how precious life is 💚
Life is not eternal but love is. Very touching
Thankyou. 💚💚
I am sad for your loss, Karen. What you say is so true, we have only this moment but love is for eternity. The fragility of life is something we don’t always comprehend, but are reminded of it when someone dear to us leaves.
Thankyou Helen. He was very special and although he was only here for such a short time, he made a big impact on us all.
I am very sorry for your loss. You’re right. Life is so fragile. I am keeping you in my thoughts.
Thankyou so much for your thoughts. 🙏🏻
My heart holds you…you have inspired me to honor this day in a special, grateful way…
Thankyou Vicki. That’s exactly what we should learn from death. 🙏🏻
Sorry for your loss. Extending my love and peace to you. Beautiful quote to live by.
Thankyou. It is a beautiful quote and I appreciate your kind thoughts.
I’m very sorry to hear this. My condolences also to Jarrad’s family. Love & blessings, Sam
Thankyou Sam. Their road through grief will be difficult. ❤️
I am sorry for your loss, and 33 is indeed far to young. The snowflake quote is really beautiful and a wonderful reminder to enjoy each moment.
Sending healing energy your way.
Thankyou Jean. I appreciate your kind thoughts 🙏🏻
I am so sorry for your loss :(. He is too young 😦 Thanks for your post and the message behind the post. Now and then, we should appreciate more what we have and start to do things that matter us the most before it is too late…
Thankyou so much Linh. 💚