The Difference a Day Makes

  The Difference a Day Makes

For me, as I’m sure for many, this has been a week of deep sadness. The hurricane and floods in the Gulf States that has caused so much suffering and death has shaken us all. I want to share what I did yesterday as the ache in my heart for those caught in the tragedy of loss, death, and disrupted lives struggled to survive.

With my morning coffee I re-read the many e-mails from all of you who wrote your thoughts and stories prompted by Beatrice Woods stay in the hospital. I may not have yet answered each one personally but I assure you that your stories of caring and love touched me deeply.  Then I went for a walk in the country and basked in the beauty of a perfect day of cool and sunshine.  Now it was time for me to focus on important things.

My usual to-do list became irrelevant.  I put it aside.  The e-mails piled up, the errands didn’t get done, the bills didn’t get paid.  I’ll do those things another time I said to myself – today I’m going to reach out the people I care about, to people I love, to friends I’ve been out of touch with and let them know they’re important in my life.

I called one dear friend of over thirty years who lives a thousand miles away and I haven’t seen or talked with for maybe two years.  What a wonderful connection it was. Our conversations was of the challenges and joys we’ve each dealt with these past months and most importantly, we told each other how much we truly loved one another.  Next I wrote three letters not e-mails, but letters that I stamped and put in the mailbox. That seemed to best way to tell those particular old friends how important they’ve been in my life and how much their friendship had sustained me. 

Then I made more phone calls. People were surprised when I told them I didn’t have any particular reason for calling except to tell them I cared about them.  Just a simple checking in to let them know they were in my thoughts.  Yes, I sent a bunch of e-mails too.  Some of my colleagues and friends are on the computer all day and I knew my message of “just thinking about you” would be read immediately.

And that was my day. Except for writing this brief piece, the rest of today is going to be more of the same.  Somehow in the midst of the enormous natural tragedies in our country and around the world that leave me frustrated, sad, and feeling powerless to change, I know I have the means to change small things – appreciate what I have, tell my family and friends they’re important to me, share my concern and caring, and feel love.  Maybe these aren’t the little things after.