WRITTEN BY: BILL BOWSER

 

The unfortunate deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the seven others on his helicopter remind us that grief is a part of life. When tragedy strikes, those who are not directly involved want to comfort those who are suffering the loss of a loved one. We empathize with them, we feel their pain. We want to say something that not only expresses our sorrow for their loss, but also reduces their grief. We have to say something, don’t we?

Well, not really. There’s nothing that can be said at times of great sorrow that will make much, if any difference. Methinks it’s more useful to offer a hug and a shoulder to cry on. Hugs are a wonderful means of comforting someone, even those who are not grieving. That became painfully clear to me after I lost my wife almost 14 years ago. I really miss being hugged and having someone to hug. Take advantage of more opportunities to hug the people you care about. You may not get another opportunity to do so.

And then along comes the frightening news of Rush Limbaugh’s lung cancer diagnosis. God speed my friend. Many hugs for you and yours.

 

 

Gasoline is probably not the best way to get rid of gophers!

 The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. –Alice Walker

 The mind is everything. What you think you become. –Buddha

 The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. –Chinese Proverb

 An unexamined life is not worth living. –Socrates