A Wake Up Call

The story below is a true story that happened in September.

During the month of September, a dear friend of mine lost her husband suddenly in an accident. The tragedy was a shock to everyone.

This accident was sudden and certainly unexpected. It drove home the realization that you just don't know when a loved one is no longer going to be with you. We sometimes take our love ones for granted, and we expect that they will be with us forever. However, as we all know, life does not work that way and sometimes we get a wake up call that shocks us and makes us stand back and realize how short life is.

In consoling her, I tried to imagine if I was in her shoes how would I feel. It was impossible to imagine what she was going through. What words do I say to help her?

Sometimes words just can not express our feelings. Sometimes our actions are much more meaningful than words. A hug can sometimes express more than our words will ever express. Sometimes, just being there to listen is more meaningful and helpful to people.

A SECOND WAKE UP CALL,

As I was leaving the funeral parlor, I ran into a Marilyn. (Marilyn has been a true friend to me over the years. She is one of those friends who is with you in the good times and is always by your side in the bad times. She has a sense of humor that makes everyone laugh and she makes everyone feel at ease.) We chit chatted for a few moments, and then she asked me how my job was. So I started talking and talking and talking (am sure she wished she had never asked, ha) I was having a stressful week with my job and I was telling her all the issues and how I was feeling. She listened to me as I was raving about my frustrations, then without saying a word, she took her hands and placed them on my face, and said to me, "But at least you had a day."

The touch of her hands on my cheeks, the calmness in her voice, and the words she spoke, "BUT AT LEAST YOU HAD A DAY", hit me like a ton of bricks. All the frustrations, all the stress that was building up inside of me - came to a complete stop.

Since that day, when I start feeling stressed, I remind myself of Marilyn's words - but at least I had a day! Things could be a lot worse, the stress of the situation always could be worse, but I am alive and I have a lot to be thankful for - so I shall not waste my days with stress and frustrations - Life is too short!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Catherine Pulsifer is one of the editors of Words of Wisdom 4 U, http://www.wow4u.com. You will find a collection of motivational thoughts, stories, quotes, poems, smiles, proverbs, and more at Words of Wisdom 4 U!

---

3 Clever Ways To Stop Procrastinating

Stopping procrastination can be challenging, especially since you can't put... Read More

Daily Motivation: 7 Methods

Isn't a lack of daily motivation one of the biggest... Read More

The Best Day Of My Life

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is... Read More

Break Free

I received an email the other day from one of... Read More

The Secret Motivation Strategy That Never Fails

No matter how much you want to make your dreams... Read More

Are You Ready To Make A Strong Finish?

Talk about a strong finish! In their inspiring story of... Read More

Procrastination Emancipation

It's early January as I sit down to research and... Read More

Do you Live the Life you Desire?

There comes a time in every person's life when you... Read More

Fear Emotions - Positive or Negative?

What is fear's purpose? How do you handle it? While... Read More

Ideas Abound - But Youve Got to Take Action

Whether you are aware of it or not, we are... Read More

Motivation: The Power of Asking

Very shortly, in this paragraph, I'm going to share with... Read More

Habit Change--Six Steps to Success

As every New Year approaches, many of us are doing... Read More

Motivation, Your Core Resource

Your motivation is one of the core resources you have... Read More

Finding the Easy Way

For the last hour I have been sweating over what... Read More

4 Barriers to Overcome For Growth

As we begin a new year, it's natural to reflect... Read More

Sow the Seed - See the Harvest

The story is told of two boys who were walking... Read More

12 Reflections on Personal Responsibility

Responsibility means being accountable for what we think, say, and... Read More

Casting Vision

One of my greatest loves as a kid was fishing.... Read More

Journaling - A Tool for Healing and Growth

The word "journal" comes from the French. It dates back... Read More

How to Change Your Negative Reality

It is often taken for granted that the reality tomorrow... Read More

Employee Motivation Checklist - Ten Measures of Success

In the form of a simple easy to use checklist,... Read More

Under The Guise of Care and Concern

These words came up powerfully for me these past few... Read More

Motivation and Change: Creating Your Daily Success Program

I get some of my best ideas for my column... Read More

How to Stay Motivated

You've read a book that motivates you to action; you've... Read More

Make The Most Of Today

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at... Read More

Celebrating the Couch Potato

Ah, the couch potato, that icon of American pop culture... Read More

Motivation: The Power of Action, Part 1

I've heard it said that 85% of success is showing... Read More

Remember, Worse Things Can Happen At Sea, So..... Dont Ever Quit!

Throughout the many pages of scores of motivational books, with... Read More

Full Steam Ahead, Just Dont Go Off Half Cocked!

Do you do things that you don't want to do?... Read More

Discover How to Stay Motivated and Be Successful

If you surveyed 50 people asking each their definition of... Read More

The Default Setting

In the coaching relationships I have with our clients, the... Read More

What Motivates You - Desire or Fear?

The energy of desire is a powerful motivator and creative... Read More

Courage and Fear

Mark Twain once said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery... Read More