I was about to get into the rental return line after three glorious weeks in Southern California, when my Mom texted me with news of a friend’s passing.
Our friend had been a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother. She had been a hair stylist, waited tables at a country club, and had worked at the local grocery store. She was full of love and kindness and had a knack for making whoever she was talking to feel like they mattered.
Intellectually, I understand that death is our collective destiny. An ordinary part of the lifecycle that is on the opposite end as birth.
Fortunately, Leone enjoyed a very long life. She passed away at 102 years old, mere weeks shy of 103. Somedays, I feel old at fifty. Leone was more than twice my age and still mentally sharp.
Yes, she had a long time on this earth, a very long time. BUT she didn’t have forever.
Leone’s funeral was lovely, full of the music that made her happy, Bible readings, the pastor offering words of comfort and reflection; her daughter celebrating her memory with poems, her son with an essay.
My biggest take away from her service was that Leone impacted countless people. She was beloved and will be sorely missed. Did she save the planet from political intrigue, war, environmental calamity or poverty? No, she did not. But, she was the type of person who yearned for a better world and had great hope in the progress the future could bring.
I know that Leone made her world a much better place and I have faith that her influence will continue to ripple out far beyond her life.
The morning I heard of Leone’s passing, I had snapped a picture of the signage on the floor of the car return’s parking ramp. Looking at it now, I can’t help but think of Leone and how she returned to not being here. Not dissimilar to the time before her conception, but not exactly the same.
One day, I too will return to not being here and, just like Leone, my story will become part of the lives I impacted while I was alive. I hope who I was will ripple and inspire.
My friend’s death has reminded me that I don’t need to be the hero, solving all the world’s problems, in order to have an impact. I need only do my imperfect best to live the life I’ve been given as fully as I can.
Thank you Leone for everything you brought into my life, the lessons you taught me and the joy you shared so freely. I will forever miss you, my friend!
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JASON FREEMAN is a Professional Speaker and the proud owner of a Speech Impediment. He is also the author of “Awkwardly Awesome: Embracing My Imperfect Best” and a Perseverance Coach.
He excites and encourages his audience to break through the barriers of their own limitations using a method he created, called “Doing your Imperfect Best ™”.
His Imperfect TEDx Talk can be viewed here.
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