Memorial Day aka "Life is Short Day"

Memorial Day is a day to remember, and a day to be reminded.

It’s a day when we think about those who gave their lives so we could have one.

It’s a day when we think about all the people we love who are gone.

We think about them every day, but today, is their day.

We’ve all lost someone close to us. It’s how this whole life thing works — it eventually comes to an end. It’s sad. But it’s reality. Nobody gets out of this alive. 

As I get older, I think about it more often. I’m not obsessed with it, but it’s on my mind more than it used to be. It’s one thing to think about the end of my own days, I won’t know any different when I’m gone, but I can’t stand the thought of losing my family or one of my friends. It scares me. The uncertainty and shortness of life scares me.

It’s an overused cliché, but life really is short. Think about how fast the last year went by. Think about how fast the last ten years went by. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it literally stops me in my tracks. I can’t believe I’m 42. Just a few days ago, I was 22, in college, living in a shithole house with furniture made from cases of Old Milwaukee. What just happened?

It makes you wonder why we worry about the trivial shit we worry about every day. Does any of that stuff really matter? Probably not. 

Here’s another cliché to chew on— live every day as if it were your last. I’m not even sure what that really means. It sounds like you’re supposed to throw yourself off a cliff and hope for the best. Not recommended, unless you really do want this to be your last day. What I think it means is that we can’t take any day for granted, because you never know if you’ll get another chance.

To me, the speed and shortness of life is trying to tell me to focus on what matters. Focus on the people and the moments that matter. Screw the rest. Easier said than done, but worth the effort.

I’m not saying anything that hasn’t been said a thousand times. But today seemed like a great day for a reminder.

Hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day and had a chance to be with the people you care about most — and a chance to think about those you care about that aren’t here anymore.

Someday, today will be the day somebody will be thinking about you.

Think about that.

JS