Over a few short years, Linda McCartney, Gianni Versace, Princess Diana and JFK Jr. - all rich enough to solve ALMOST all of life’s problems - died too young, too soon. It was a lesson that sometimes nothing can save you - from disease (Linda McCartney), from the evil of others (Gianni Versace), from the stupidity of others (Princess Diana via her drunken, foolish driver) or your own bad judgement (JFK Jr.). Just learned that a young man I’ve known since he was in grade school with my son has experienced an “eye stroke”, something I’d never even heard of. He just woke up one morning without sight in one eye. It may resolve itself, and it may not. Just another reminder to treasure our “ordinary” days...the most unexpected thing can come along and change your life forever.
I was attending a conference in Europe in 1997 when another American there told me that Versace had been murdered. I had never heard of him before.
Reminds me of the old saying: "Live each day as if it were your last."
Good reminder for all of us.
Although I am not an Eastern religion cult believer myself, I used to have a new age magazine cover I put up at work with a natural scene and a Sri Paramahansa Yogananda (Autobiography of a Yogi author) quotation:
Be thankful to have the blessing of one ordinary day.
I had gone through having my precious wife in the hospital for 54 days and thanks be to God she made it back for 22 years before dying suddenly at home in February of last year. Those "ordinary" days when she could be happy at home were all blessings.
I tried to remember each day was something for which to be thankful to God.