This entry starts a bit on a sad note. This Monday my cat Lilly passed away.
She came to us as a little kitten and has left us as an old lady. She had been a family member for at least 16 years. Unfortunately she got very sick in the last couple of few weeks. The passing has ended her suffering and for this I am relieved for her.
Back home in Germany we have a saying that if a cat’s fur has 3 colours or more then they are “Lucky Charm Cats”. Lilly was a beautiful cat inside-out and she had a great life with us, a comfortable home and companions to play with.
Still, it feels like the end of an era. RIP Lilly, you will be missed. xxx
Lilly’s transition into a different realm has inspired me to write a poem I would like to share with you:
And now you’re gone…
Leaving an empty space behind. It happened so fast
They say you are in a happy place now. I hope it’s true
It felt like we would always be together, time didn’t matter
We went through so much
The ups and the downs of life
We communicated in our own special way that no one else understood.
And now you’re gone.
It’ s never the right time
My heart hurts, cries out for you
Tears falling, can’t stop them, a well of sadness
I miss your touch, your warmth
Can’t believe you are not with us anymore.
Where have all those years gone?
Happy memories, us together against the world
– but no more….. no more….
So hard to understand
It goes deep, deeper than anyone can imagine.
A void inside me
I know you are not far away
But still… it is not the same
My heart reaches out for you
Are you ok? Are you happy where you are now?
No more suffering…
Now that you are gone
Feeling pain, feeling numb
Can’t believe it – speechless
No words can describe the loss. Like a hole in the heart.
Something has changed. Can’t say what.
Everything will be fine. I need to believe.
Miss you. Will we meet again?
This all got me thinking about endings and new beginnings.
We all have experienced loss one way or another in our lives. When something crucial happens, like a beloved family member, friend or pet passing away we are confronted with our own mortality, how vulnerable life is and how quickly it can end.
Realizing this gives us the chance to revise our current situation. Are we happy and satisfied the way we currently live? Or is there still something we’ve always wanted to have done? What is it?
And why wait?!?!
A while ago I listened to a talk of Jack Canfield (Author of “Chickensoup for the Soul”) and he suggested the following approach to happier and more soulful life:
Imagine you are on your death bed at a very old age. Your loved ones are around you. And you look back on your life. All these regrets come to you about what you should and shouldn’ t have done over the years. It doesn’t have to be like that. We can start working on them now.
Write down all these things that come to you. List them and see whether you get up to 100 (or even more)! It doesn’t matter how big or how small, everything counts. Whether it is about spending more time with the family or traveling to Mount Fuji in Japan, it doesn’t matter. You can always add to your list. Well, once you have a few things down on paper you just take those as your To-Do-List!!
Why wait until it is too late to do anything about them? It is never too late to start something new, learn a new skill or tell someone how much he/she matters.
It would be great to hear back from you how you get on with your list! 😊
Enjoy life!! xx
Chickensoup for the soul:
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originally posted on 28th February 2018
