Sometimes you think that things will never change.
I read a blog this week of a girl in her mid 20s who was dying from cancer. She spoke about her unfulfilled dreams but also about how she was making the most of every moment of her life. From what I can recollect she died early in the New Year and her family released some of her words in tribute.
When you are a kid you take the way the world is for granted. I remember being out for a walk with my mum when I was about 11 years old. She told me that one of my childhood friends was facing the prospect of losing a parent to terminal illness. At the age of 11 that is pretty difficult to understand - not only in terms of the death of a parent but also the thought of facing the rest of your childhood with the loss and the grief.
Everyone has troubled times in their lives. My wonderful wife lost her father at a very young age and while I have no doubt that it was a heavy burden to carry I can also say that she is very strong, resilient and resourceful because she had to deal with that experience.
I was reminded of these things this week. One of my favourite places to photograph is a nondescript field along the coast. Two trees stand on the edge of it and they look as if they were meant to be together as their branches reach out and touch each other. When I first visited this location I thought to myself that they looked like a father and a son. This was particularly poignant for me as I lost my own father 10 years ago this year and I often thought of him when I visited this place. I have become very used to seeing these trees together and spending the time thinking about my dad. It has become a special place for me.
The stormy weather over the last few weeks has changed all of that. Two friends separately got in touch to say that the smaller of the two trees has been damaged by the strong winds. This afternoon I decided to visit to see for myself what had happened. I was quite saddened when I got there. Now I do not wish to trivialise the death of a parent or a young girl and compare it to the snapping of some branches. The message is more around emotion and sentimentality and association and how we cope with loss. Life can be very brutal and Mother Nature can be very uncaring.
We live in a world that can be very unfair. Between Christmas and New Year I spent a lot of time with my family but I was also thinking about those who do not have families close by. I think about elderly folk who live on their own. I worry about children whose parents do not or can not care for them. My heart goes out to those who are approaching the end of their lives and those that they leave behind.
So you see that things do change. Even though you may go from one day to the next thinking that all will stay the same you may find that it doesn't. Although this may be quite a sombre post it is worth remembering that there are amazing happy moments in life. Things do not always change for the worse - sometimes they change for the better. However, do not waste your time on the unimportant things in life. Make the most of every day. Live life to the full. Dream a little and do not forget to put your arms around the ones you love.
Peace and light - Darren
