Rest In Peace

A colleague of mine passed away a few hours ago. While more of an acquaintance than a friend,  we spent a lot of time together during training this summer, where she impressed me with her intelligence, wit, and, and tenacity in the fact of the cancer she was fighting.

And now she's gone.

Having people pass away is often the wake-up call that we need in order to rise above the petty annoyances of everyday life and focus on the big picture. I found that particularly difficult today, at the end of a long work week. All I could think of was: how can I live life to the fullest when I work 70+ hours a week and barely have time to eat or sleep? How can I live joyfully when I can barely get my students to speak to me (and each other) respectfully?

But maybe living life to the fullest isn't about how much free time we have or how many vacations we take. Instead, maybe it's a decision we have to make each day to be our best self, to find the value and worth in every person we meet, and to ease each other's burdens along the way.

Cynthia, I was glad to know you. The time you spent with us was short, but your infectious optimism and inherent belief in the worth of your students will live on.