We celebrated a life today. It was a remembrance worthy of the life she lived. It was whole, real, fully formed and fully experienced. It was gut wrenching.
A father was humble. Sons were true. Sisters were emphatic. A niece was clear, and brave: “I was better when I was with her.”
When we honor the dead it is easy to forget that they needed us as much as we needed them. I know that she would be first in line to proclaim that as true.
I couldn’t stop thinking about these five statements, these twelve words.
I love you. “You saw me, heard me and understood me. You made me something I didn’t know I could be. My heart is broken and it will keep on breaking. And I will go on.”
Please forgive me. “I hurt you. I could have done more. I’m sorry.”
I forgive you. “You were human. You did your best. And you were human.”
Thank you. “You changed everything for me. You made a difference. You mattered. You always will.”
Goodbye. “I will never forget you. Impossible. Never.”
{For Paul}
DAVID BERRY is the author of “A More Daring Life: Finding Voice at the Crossroads of Change” and the founder of RULE13 Learning. He speaks and writes about the complexity of leading in a changing world. Connect with him on Twitter at @berrydavid.
