What if we decide that living is being loved? Of the eight, or is it nine, billion people on the planet, are you really aware that most of them are even ALIVE? The fact that they’re living is more like an abstract concept, a fact with little grounding, for most of us. Those whose livingness we feel are those we hold in our hearts.
I used to say to my son, when he was younger and people we love died, that it’s the job of the living to keep the dead alive. I really believe this. It’s our power of remembering and loving that keeps them alive, even when we no longer see them in flesh and blood. It’s up to us not to be lazy about breathing life into the memory again and again.
When I’m getting my knickers in a twist, I hear my Dad’s voice saying, “Rise above it, honey.” And when I forget things, like writing this post last night, I remember my father John Julius remarking that he felt the hot breath of Dr. Alzheimer on the back of his neck.
I don’t fear that it was Dr. Alzheimer catching up to me last night—I have lots of other excuses. But it makes me smile to remember John Julius saying that.
The other thing he used to say regularly, when I left to go somewhere, was, “Give my love to everyone of importance.” In his case, that was everyone he’d ever met or might meet, or who was dear to someone dear to him. So, I will pass on his love to everyone of importance now: including you, as you read this.
Please join us later today, or any Thursday at 3 pm PT / 6 pm ET for the Prompt of the Week on Zoom. There’s no need to register, just click here. You can always find the Zoom link in the footer at imaginativestorm.com.