“You shouldn’t have said the truth.”
That’s what my wife declared after I shared this story with her…
THE SUMMER BEFORE YESTERDAY
I’d just finished helping a wonderful family load up their moving truck. That’s when I offered handshakes, hugs, and the parting words of “farewell forever.”
“Don’t say it like that!” said the mother of the moving-away family.
“Come on, let’s be real. We didn’t even hang out when we lived in the same state,” I said.
That’s when the moving-away mother started talking about the future. She shared how she’d see my wife the following month. She voiced how my wife loved the city her family was moving to.
All I could think was that my wife was at work, and I was the foot-in-mouth fool standing before her proclaiming, “farewell forever.”
And damn me because I wanted to shove my second foot between my jaws and speak the rest of my truth…
My truth being that the moving-away mother and I hadn’t seen each other for at least a year, maybe two or more. My truth being that despite our mutual respect for one another including genuine care for each other’s families, her moving truck was the sole reason we saw each other prior to her departure.
Except my truth can be a real pain in the azz, so I suppressed my mouthpiece.
THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW
There’s a lie inside the power you give tomorrow.
Because you often tell yourself there’s “later.” You tell yourself you can make up with loved ones “in the morning.” You convince yourself that you can focus on your dreams “next year.”
It’s not just your lie though, I’ve lived the same one.
Silly me though because I didn’t feel like I was lying on that past summer day when I encountered the moving-away mother and her loving family.
Yeah, maybe she was confident that we’d meet again. And maybe we will.
But maybe we won’t.
So maybe I believed that “farewell forever” was an honest goodbye based on our patterns of yesterday.
Of course, I didn’t intend to be rude on that day. My truth just fell out of my mouth, and I certainly didn’t enjoy the conversation.
Another one of my truths: I’d rather try to live today’s nonfiction than the fiction of tomorrow.
THE TRUTH INSIDE TODAY
The reality is even the rest of today isn’t guaranteed.
That’s such a simple statement. Yet too many of us take its depth for granted.
So I encourage you to witness the truth inside this day of thankfulness.
Come on, it’s a no brainer to remember yesterday and be thankful for it. And oh my gravy, PLEASE find hope and believe in tomorrow!
But recognize that yesterday is gone, and the story of your life isn’t built on tomorrow.
So that leaves you with today…
Will you make heroic choices for yourself?
Will you support the characters inside the story of your life?
Will you serve today to begin building your storyworld of tomorrow?
P.S. I can’t let this day pass without giving a shout out to a man from my past who impacted the man I am today. Read last year’s Thankful post by clicking HERE.
Hello David,
Just finished reading your current blog and also the one you referred us to from last year at this time. So sorry you lost your father and am only now realizing what that truly means.
I just recently lost my wife and the words “farewell forever,” while so true, are very difficult to assimilate without experiencing a sense of tremendous loss and emotional aloneness.
I can truly appreciate your words and the wisdom that allows you to say them and honesty with which you share them.
Thank you
Jim Curts
Jim, I can’t begin to pretend that I understand your pain. Yet your comment here helps me further process the impact within the words, “farewell forever.”
Thanks to you for helping me on this day as I continually strive to be thankful.
Peace.
You are so spot on with the no guarantee of tomorrow or even tonight..My son was in a tragic Halloween hayride accident. He survived but the lives of his aunt and her two small children was snuffed out just like that.I spent so much time worring about my older son in the military, it never crossed my mind it could be anyone of my children or anyone of my family members.I always thought that happens to other people..i wont make that mistake again..
Wow Michelle. Thank you for being so open and sharing here. And thank you for appreciating today. Big prayers your way.
I liked it Dave… I have to believe that farewell forever means you hate moving as much as I do… even if it was someone else! Everyone needs the promise of tomorrow even if we don’t use it!
Tegon, I do despise moving. 😉 And yep, we all need the promise of tomorrow!
Life is shorter than we know. Live fully. Love well. Tell the truth . . .with gentleness. Cherish the moment. This Thanksgiving I am grateful that I have a cyber connection with you. (Oh Brave New World!) I appreciate your writing talents, especially your constant striving for authenticity, which reveals to us our very human condition. May your belly be fully of turkey. May your kids be filled with laughter. May your wife be filled with joy. And may we meet in the fields of story chasing once again. Sign me: Your friend, fan and fellow writer.
Stephanie, well said my storytelling friend. Well said and “ditto” to everything ya wrote. 😉
Hi David, great reminder that we all need to act today to live the life we want. Great post.
Hey Zara. Thanks for taking the time to holler in the comments. I appreciate your support so much. 🙂
Hi David, Thanks for writing this piece. While “farewell forever” has different meanings for different people, I hope each finds peace for each set of circumstances, including your experiences from last year. Your willingness to tell the truth may come from courage, or something else. Even so it is a reminder to not live too heavily through tomorrow(s) and to enjoy those around us today. In a balance of both, may each be at peace.
Hey Nicole! Well said and thanks for dropping your take (which resonated with me).
Peace 😉
They say you do a good job when you connect. You obviously have connected to many with this post. Although some tragic stories, you have brought comfort with your words. A job very well done!
Hey Elizabeth. Maybe I’m a dark guy constantly searching for the light? Or I’m a blunt guy with a mouthful of feet? Either way, I’m blessed to know ya and have you drop by here! 🙂