One Life to Live
One Life to Live
Today was one of those days in my life where I was reminded how special this miracle we call life can really be. I saw the very best of humanity, and I saw the very worst of humanity. I saw how special life can be and I saw how dangerous life can be. I was reminded that life can be beautiful and I was reminded that life can be horrifying. I saw a celebration of life and I saw a homicide in life.
Life is What we Make it
I was at a funeral reception of a gentleman that my family has known for about 25 years. When they made an announcement that they were going to show a 20 minute presentation that his grandchildren had made, I was a little skeptical because I was wondering how they planned on keeping the audience’s attention for 20 minutes. When the slide show started, I was truly moved. I saw a man that truly lived an incredible life. Every picture captivated my soul because he always had an incredible smile on his face. Every picture showed an amazing connection with his wife, his children, his grand children, and his many friends. My partner Cristina who had never met this gentleman, started to cry because this slide show moved her so much. She saw the very same thing that I saw. We saw a man who made the very best of his life. Did he have problems in his life, I am sure he did. Everyone has problems at one time or another. It is not the problems in our lives that make us, it is how we handle those problems. The quality of our lives depend on the quality of our spirit. Life is what we make it, and this gentleman clearly made the very best of his life.
Then I Saw The Worst of Life
On my way home I was constantly thinking how precious life can really be. I live in a gated community right next to the gated community that my family lives in. I often stop by to see my mother on my way home. At the entrance of the community was about four different news vans reporting live. This was a shock to me because I am not used to seeing news vans outside of the gates of this subdivision. This subdivision is where Tiger Woods, Shaquille O’neil, Vince Carter and the rest of the who’s who in Orlando call home. The homes start at about 2,000,000 and go up to over 20,000,000. As I passed mansion after mansion I pulled up to a scene that seemed to be right out of a movie. I saw more police cars that I could count. I saw crime scene investigation units and I saw crime scene tape everywhere. This wasn’t CSI Miami, this was Central Florida’s most exclusive subdivision where bad things are not suppose to happen. I eventually found out that a man shot his wife in the head, ending her life. What situation in this man’s life could have possibly been so bad that he decided to take his wife’s life?
What in The World Happened?
Murder in the most exclusive community in Orlando. I don’t have all the details because it is an active homicide investigation. However, I really don’t care what the details are. Nothing in the world could’ve been so bad that drove him to kill his wife. I know that there is no reason in the world to end a life in the way that this woman’s life was ended. What went wrong? Were they facing money problems? Was their home facing foreclosure? Did one person cheat on the other? Did someone hurt the other person’s feelings badly? Who gives a damn because there is nothing in life that can make your world so bad that you need to take someone else’s life. I have faced problems in my life that I thought would destroy me. I have faced adversity that I thought would be the end of me. Guess what? I survived and every time I overcame my trials and tribulations I became a better person. I have heard of people overcoming the most difficult circumstances. I have heard of people rising from the darkest of places only to experience a glory that was once unimaginable. If someone else did it, anyone can do it.
I Don’t Give a Damn
I don’t care what challenges you face because I know that you have the power within you to overcome anything that life throws at you. I know that there is nothing that you can face that hasn’t already been conquered by someone else. Is it going to be easy? No, its going to be hard. Sometimes it is going to be extremely difficult but I know you can do it if you desire to do it. You can achieve anything you believe. Nietzsche said, “What doesn’t kill you, will only make you stronger.” I know you have problems, but there is nothing that you can’t overcome. It may look like the end of the world, but I promise you that you can overcome. Never give up hope. Cherish your life, cherish the love, and cherish the days that you are blessed to live. You are not here forever so make sure you make every moment of your life count. Your life can be extraordinary or it can be miserable. Its entirely up to you. What life are you going to live?
Martin Luther King said, “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”
Please take care of yourself,
Hooman Hamzehloui 2009
www.HoomanCan.com
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September 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I am totally with you on the sad news of the murder. And rejoice that you experienced someone who in their death showed others how awesome life can be. Both men made a difference that will live forever…not just in videos or photos…but in memories. Making a difference, no matter how small, creates a force that lives forever.
You state, “I Don’t Give a Damn.”
You say, “I don’t care what challenges you face because I know that you have the power within you to overcome anything that life throws at you. I know that there is nothing that you can face that hasn’t already been conquered by someone else.”
I agree with you that anyone can overcome anything. I agree with you that people have the power to overcome anything. I agree that there isn’t anything that someone has not faced before.
But…that said…we and you…should care a little.
No. It is not is our responsibility to continually sympathize with those who own the “poor pitiful me movie” and should get an Emmy. Forget about the incessant whiners and cry babies of humankind. We should refuse to break our backs over and over again for those who dig a bigger and bigger hole and take a permanent vacation at the bottom while sipping expensive champagne.
I can say with confidence, and experience, that no matter what…people face evil forces every day…Call it what you may…the Devil…wickedness…hatred…just plain bad. Whatever the term, it sometime seems an easier choice to walk in darkness, and to walk away from the light. But when doing so, no matter the best of intentions, things always eventually end up upside down and on the messed up side of life.
For them, and those around them, it really sucks and it is very sad. A man shot his wife. Things got so dark for him that everything was black. Did anyone know how dark it was for him? Did he reach out? It is so sad for his family and terrible that no one was there to protect his wife in what we all consider a safe, secure, idyllic, gated community.
Unfortunately or fortunately, you crossed two souls in the same who chose different paths. Your gift is sharing that experience. To tell us to learn from it. To tell us to take notice. To tell us to wake up.
We all face challenges at different times in our life and under different circumstances. It seems the most important thing to remember is when we see a darkening or dimming of that light, we should reach out and grab on to our faith, family and/or friends.
When it seems like all is lost, we only have to reach out to those closest to us, and even if no one is there but God, and grab on to that hand. That hand is there to walk with us toward the bright light until we can stand alone and strong again, on our own two feet.