Month: December 2013

Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s an age old question that seems to have gone unanswered generation after generation. Bad things don’t just happen to good people. They happen to the BEST people. They happen to our most dependable, our smartest, our sweetest … But why?

What do these people have that the “bad” don’t? That answer is simple. They have us. They have the support of every single life they’ve touched by being the best. So when they hurt and when they suffer “the best” have us to wipe their tears, to hold their hands and to send thousands of prayers into the heavens in hopes that they’ll find relief. In times where those prayers are answered, we find a new appreciation for “the best”. We never again fail to recognize the warmth of their smile or sincerity of their words.

 In times where it seems we’ve lost them…. well those are the times where a true testament to the depth of their goodness occurs. We cry for them , we mourn for them , we remember them and then we become better for them. Every life they touched takes up the torch of what it means to be the best and carries it with them… and in doing so the world we feared had lost some of its goodness is in fact showered with it.

Luckily, for most of us, the closest we’ll ever come to a near death experience is New Year’s Eve. All things considered, the two occurrences have freakishly similar qualities.

1)      The Past: It’s been said that when faced with death, your entire life flashes before your eyes in a matter of seconds. The same instance occurs every January 1^st with the hollering of,” Happy New Year”. Amidst the frenzy of hugs and kisses, the ghosts of every year past seem to fill the room with their presence and force you to ask yourself, “What have I done with my life”?

2)      The Present: It matters who we’re with in that moment. When it comes to our final moment on earth, we’ve all given it thought. Alone? Our significant other? Our best friend? Our parent? Who do we absolutely need to say our goodbyes to? The same sentiment applies to ringing in a new year.  The saying goes that whoever you spend New Year’s Eve with will be the people/person you spend the entire year with. I’ve always weighed that thought heavily when making plans for the big night.

3)      The Future: “Do we have one”? That same thought rushes to mind in both scenarios. One perhaps more metaphorically than the other, but still gravely considered.  It’s for this very reason that New Year’s resolutions exist. Despite their high failure rate, we continue to make them each year. The hope they offer gives us the courage to face the New Year and all the inner demons that have been brought to the forefront that night.

So there you have it….There’s nothing quite like a giant shimmering orb dropping from the sky to make you consider your past, your present and your future. As the countdown winds down, I don’t want to be faced with any regrets or fears….so instead I’ll start now. I’m going to use the next 23 days to figure it all out. I’ll consider my career path, nurture my relationships, plan the year ahead,and hell…maybe even work out!