It's a scene we only see in a movie or sitcom. Where a character has a dream or nightmare. Their existence, wiped away. Their friends and family continue forward, living their lives. The character that has been removed from reality gains deep perspective. Usually, these scenes depict the character as dead and they have the ability to look down on those they left behind.
I had this experience yesterday. No, not near death. But as I pulled in to the garage yesterday, I could see my family through the window, looking into the kitchen. Music was playing, my oldest dancing and laughing while my youngest clapping his hands and smiling. My immediate thought was "look at them having a good time." I felt joy. Happiness. And, as I did not see myself in the mix, I felt sorrow.
This is what life would be like without me. The perspective, which I arrive at often, is, how quickly time evaporates. How we're running out of it. How critical it is for me to be present with them, in every moment. The depth and wonder in my little boys eyes. The details I study of my daughters face. How much they change, daily.
Whether you're a parent or not, I hope you can understand your role in the lives of others. Play the role properly and if a mistake happens, or we fall short, we can do better with the next take. Wherever anyone is right now, the power to re-write the script is in our hands. It doesn't need to be a dream or nightmare or near death experience.
It is far simpler than that - one day you will die. So, approach each day properly. Treat people with love and kindness. I read once that we die every-day. Every minute that passes belongs to death. How naive we are to think when we fall asleep at night that we'll wake up the next morning. What if we don't? In our sleep that is the closest to death we'll be. Now when you wake up, that is new life. Born again.
Use it properly.
Perfect