Everything happens for a reason

I was discussing Tim Russert's passing with a few people who were amazed at Luke's demeanor. He was on 'The Today Show' only a few days after his father's passing. He did not 'appear' to be grieving in the 'normal way' people grieve.

I tried but could not get my point across (which is normal). No one knows how the next person feels inside. No one knows how one deals with grief or sadness. I dislike the phrases "I know what you are going through" or "I know how you feel."

Every human being handles life's situations differently and uniquely--whether it be joy, hardship, terror, ecstasy, or whatever emotion. We all have our own little quirks. Some handle adversity better than others. Some run from hard times. Some fall flat on their face. Some let us down. And then there are those that come out even stronger and triumphant.

From everything I have heard, read and seen about the kind of person/father/husband/friend/co-worker Tim Russert was, I CAN understand Luke's display. His father told him he loved him every single day of his life. There is no greater gift.


On a personal level, my Mother is still here today after some rough times. She tells me she loves me every day and at the end of every phone conversation --as do I!


I know some people on this earth don't think others can change.

Well, I am a living, breathing, walking example that people can change and for the better! I have changed over the last 5 or 6 years. I have always believed that people should evolve daily, as we learn from our life experiences, mature, and try to find out who we really are and want to be. It's amazing what changes us and brings us around to what is important in life. I've also always believed that good things come out of tragedy.

My dog died. I grieved for over a year.

Of course, Katie's death happened around the same time my best friend moved to Tampa, Florida. I was in a horrible tailspin. I gained a lot of weight and was in a deep depression. Then my Mother became very ill, battling lung cancer and other ailments. She almost died at least 3 times. The tailspin continued and there was no light at the end of my tunnel. I felt alone and as if I had no one to turn to. The one person I really needed was 2500 miles away.

Well, I never gave up. I have great friends who helped me get through the rough times. And frankly, traveling to the hospital everyday before work and trying to keep everything going was enough to make me work harder and keep my head above water.

Through it all, and possibly because my Mom has given me some really tough genes, all of this adversity, these hurdles, and what appeared to be an awful run of luck made me even stronger.

I realize that life is fragile and out of our control. I put my life in God's hands every day and know that, whatever happens, he will never give me more than I can handle.

I celebrate life, as Luke Russert does.

It's not worth ever feeling sorry or grieving over something we have no control over. We must just live life to the fullest, cherish every moment, love those around us, TELL those around us we love them on a daily basis, never have any regrets and CELEBRATE LIFE!