Loss is part of life. We sometimes lose a paper or a piece of clothing, or our team loses, or something that is not that significant. But sometimes losses are much more important. We can lose a wallet, a job, a relationship, ability to do something, or even a loved one. Frequently, people are constantly trying to overcome something they have lost. How do we deal with these losses?
In sports terms I've told people in my car that I've seen The New York Yankees win 7 championships. That is a lot for modern times, however, I started rooting for them in 1966. I've seen them lose, or fail to win a championship, more than forty times. It's the years they lost that make the years they won so special.
How does that relate to the real world of losses that we deal with. One of my riders that I wrote about earlier in the year had a very successful law practice with several offices. His son lived in the Myrtle Beach area and became very ill. It was obvious that his illness was terminal. My rider closed his offices in Virginia and moved in to take care of his son. He took care of his bills and made his son's last couple years much better. After his son passed, he mourned and eventually decided to go to work and is doing something less stressful and something he enjoys-cooking chicken at KFC.
It's a sad story, but an admirable one. He did the right thing and he feels good about it. He spent time with someone he loved and did whatever he could. The truth is he gained a lot from this experience and you can tell that when you talk to him.
What have you gained from the things you've lost? Ask yourself that question as you work through your loss. I'm not saying it was good that you lost something, but I'm saying what did you gain from your loss? I bet you can come up with some things if you want to.
The television show, "This Is Us", is easily one of the best shows on television. The writing and acting is top notch and it really shows very real situations that many of us go through. Last week the story was partly about how the main characters dealt with their kids growing up. They wanted to still cuddle with their kids like they used to, but it just wasn't the same. The kids now had more friends and different interests and their relationships with their parents have changed.
Down here in Myrtle Beach my wife and I often talk about how much we miss our kids. It's easy to remember all the fun times and some difficult ones that we had as they were growing up. Although they do have their own lives in different cities, we are still an important part of their lives and they are important in our lives. It's just different today than it used to be. We have gained from those times in the past and we can clearly see how they have gained from us. Sure, at times it feels like we've lost something, but it's important to remember how much we've gained and they have too.
And, when we all get together over Thanksgiving, it will be the times that we've been apart that will make Thanksgiving a great time for all of us.
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