Inspired by life coach extraordinaire Susan Hyatt’s blog post, and my all-time favorite Martha Beck quote: “Always choose love over fear,” I am going to focus on LOVE for the next 100 days–welcome to my “100 Days of Love–The World Tour.” Love takes on many shapes and forms. It’s been the inspiration for movies, songs, and people’s lives. I’m excited to see where this journey will take us.
Day 1 starts off with the song “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent, asking the question, “How do you measure a year in the life of friends?” You measure in love. I am reminded of my friend of 20-years, Meghan, who died after a courageous six-year battle with breast cancer this past October. I could write about her illness, but I wouldn’t be doing my friend any justice. Instead, I’m choosing to focus on the great love she had and shared with the world. If I measured her life in love instead of years, she would have lived forever. Meghan was a speech-language pathologist who worked with infants and toddlers with disabilities, and their families. She gave selflessly to the families, just as she did for her own family and friends. Meghan was light and love and grace personified and one of the greatest souls I ever knew. She was also funny, daring, and extremely brave.
At her funeral I thought about the legacy she left behind and the lives she touched just by being herself and choosing love over fear countless times in her life. The sense of love present in the church was palpable. Meghan made everyone feel loved and it was obvious that everyone loved her right back. Her final words were a message to all of us: “Tell them I love them all.” We knew, Meghan, because you were always there for us, no matter what, whether it was the way you listened patiently, the big and little gestures of kindness you showed, or how you could make us laugh through the tears–and keep on laughing. Even though I miss Meghan every day, the love she shared is always with me. I know because I feel it. I could keep it close to my heart, but instead I’m going to give it away, because that is what she would have done.
If you have your own “Meghan” in your life, someone who is a true friend, take the time right now to thank her (or him) for all the love. You might just be amazed at how much of it will come right back at you.
