Finding inspiration in the most unlikely place

Today I found inspiration in the most unlikely of places – the Obituaries & Memorials of the Denver Post. Yep, that’s right, you heard me. Not in the words of the latest self-help guru or in the pages of the numerous religious, spiritual and motivational reading available, but right there, in the Denver Post obituaries.

I arrived early to work (not my normal habit – wink wink) and so I took a few minutes to peruse the morning paper in the break room and there it was, an obituary for a dear sweet woman: "Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away with her immediate family who was praying at her side. She is survived by her husband of 65 years… Her husband’s occupation took them to many of the western states before leading them to spend 13 years overseas; one year in Paris, eight years in Algiers, and four years in London. [She] worked as a volunteer in the hospital while living in Algiers and at one of the major hospitals while living in London."

Pause, sit back and take that all in. Sixty-five years of marriage (that alone is amazing!), large family, good friends, lots of travel, volunteering. Now here was a woman of dedication, commitment, love, perseverance, hope, adventure and compassion. No, she didn’t find the cure to cancer, or how to lose 20 pounds in five minutes, she didn’t achieve world peace but she did put a smile on my face and a spring in my step today. I actually did the moon walk this morning I swear I did! You can even ask a couple of my co-workers who witnessed it! This beloved woman helped me to remember what is truly important in life – be present in the moment and live it!