is the most difficult part of living and it  comes in many forms; loss of a loved one, a job, loss of a home, a pet, loss of good health.   Normally I have no problem writing my blog, I see things or hear things and I am off and running, or should I say writing.   This week I have had a difficult time concentrating, not only with my blog but I am trying to finish decorating, finish shopping, finish wrapping and finish mailing, and I am accomplishing nothing.  I am really annoyed with myself but am doing nothing about it.   Along with writing I also talk to myself and questioned what my problem was.  I traced my behavior back to a phone call I received last week from my best friend in New Jersey.  She was crying hysterically that her son had passed away suddenly from a heart attack.  We cried together for as long as she could stay on the phone and it seems that the sadness I feel is so insignificant  as compared to the pain and heartache she is going through.  Loss is such a personal thing and as much as we think we understand we really don’t.  If we try to make reason of it we can’t, and I believe it leaves us feeling paralyzed and helpless and  questioning, in this case, our own family’s morality.  I think my lack of enthusiasm to complete anything is an effect of that phone call.  I can not get her or her son off my mind.  My friend’s life is no longer the same, as that is what loss does, and if there could ever be anything good to say about it, we would have to say it  brings us closer, it makes us pause and reflect on what we had and what we have.  Our memories keep us going and our thoughts of what that person did, or said or would want us to do, are always there.  Loss teaches us to appreciate,  appreciate what we had but also to appreciate what we have.  I think it brings us together like no other event.  I know now I could not write as I could not push away the feelings I was having.  Those same  feelings have made me open my eyes to those around me and to appreciate every thing I have…to not get caught up in all the hustle and bustle,  but be aware of what this season gives all of us,  and that is the opportunity to reach out to others and be thankful for our friends and family, our health, our homes, our jobs even if our job is retirement, and to cherish our  memories and especially build new ones, as they are our best medication for healing. Thanks for being a part of my healing and I am now back to blogging.