Thread: What truly matters...

This ones completely off-topic, but as I sit here at work I started reflecting and I figured Id share my thoughts with you guys…

A moderator, veteran, and friend of mine on another board I’m on, (car forum), has been with his fiancé for over 5 years (he is 25 this year). I have never met her personally, but as we all engage in conversation through the forums on a pretty regular basis (just like we do here), most of the forum members have gotten to know him pretty well and subsequently, we had all heard about her over the years and his feelings for her were definitely not “news” to any of us. They lived in part of the area hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and were forced to relocate after the storm; so needless to say, they have endured a trying couple of years together. As well as being a moderator on that forum, he is also a very talented technician who is in the process of starting his own business, so he has been one of the “Nice guys” as well as one of the “Pros” on the board, reaching out to help anyone he could with any car problems that arose (again, reminding me of the talented people on this board who are always willing to lend advice, enthusiasm and motivation to strangers). The “community” atmosphere of that forum is quite similar to here, and many online friendships have been forged because of it.

I am very saddened as I write this, because the forum got word today that yesterday while my friend was at work, a state trooper showed up at his garage to inform him that his girlfriend Kat had been in a horrible car accident, and that she had passed away at the scene. My friend went into kind of a shock upon the news, and was only able to make a few phone calls (one to his best friend, another forum member), who broke us the terrible news this afternoon.

Maybe because his situation reminded me so much of my own life (young guy-25 years old, been with his girlfriend for about the same amount of time as my own-5 years, struggling with the same situations that I’m also dealing with in my mid-20’s while I attempt to set myself up in life, starting a business and trying to succeed, etc.), this hit me as hard as it did. I just can’t stop thinking about it, and I’m having trouble concentrating at work just trying to come to terms with the grief and devastation he must be dealing with right now...and the pain that he will endure for years to come.

I don’t want to bore anyone with a long thread, but if I can and as I reflect, I would like to offer some advice that we all forget sometimes, and to hopefully let some people “step back” for a moment in their busy lives and realize something;

Don’t ever take your loved ones for granted, and always be thankful for the blessings you are given in life. I know my friend would give anything in the world up to have his fiancé around when he comes home tonight, and knowing him for as long as I have, I can bet that nothing in the world (his business, his job, how much money he has, how “cool” his car is, when he will be able to retire, his net worth, etc.) means anything to him at this point..as I know he would trade it all in an instance to have her back in his life today... It is unfortunate that sometimes it takes a tragedy such as this to make people realize what is TRULY important in life, and that we sometimes wait till its too late to tell those we care most about just how much they mean to us…and how much we appreciate them being there.

I apologize if I brought anyone’s day down by reading this, just thought you guys would appreciate where I'm coming from. Though matter how much money any of us make today or in the future, the loved ones in your life will always be irreplaceable when they’re gone..and it’s truly amazing just fast your life can change in an instant.

Take care guys…

-Mike

Originally Posted by lightning

It is unfortunate that sometimes it takes a tragedy such as this to make people realize what is TRULY important in life

I got a firm reminder of this a couple of months ago.

A good friend of our family worked part time (20 hrs a week) in addition to a normal 40hr/week job for 20 years so that they could travel when they retired. The part time job was with an airline company and it was a benefit (able to fly standby) for long time employees .

So last year, she crossed the 20 year bench mark and had enough saved up enough to retire to travel the world (or at least where the airline she worked for went). Sadly, three months after retiring she was diagnosed with cancer, which she fought for six before passing away.

The progression of events reaffirmed that it is important to enjoy the ride because the payout is not guaranteed.

Mr. Pink