Greatness

Life was challenging this week.

One moment, things were smoothly sailing along and the next moment, life tossed us another curveball.

This is not a unique consequence of living.  It happens to all of us.

I know that this is just LIFE in all of its glory: good, bad and ugly.

And as an adult, I am mostly equipped to handle the curve (ball)s, twists and bends.

Sometimes though, for a second or a bit longer, it breaks me. 

I become weak, humble and lost, while wondering a lot of 'whys'.  Especially when I didn't see it coming.  Really, that is when it makes me most vulnerable.

As a result, I am once again gathering up that surprisingly never-ending supply of strength, courage and fortitude and will face it all head on.  But this time I am not alone.  I am moving ahead with support from family and from friends.

It also reminds me to me think about my own future and the time that I have here in this world.  It has created a desire to reflect about how I want my own life to be and what type of legacy that I want to leave behind.

And maybe, if I try really hard, one day, I can be thought of with as much love, kindness and greatness as the ones that I am saying good-bye too.

Maybe. 

But probably not. 

Some are truly the greatest in the world.  There will never be another like this.  For that, I feel blessed to just have shared a little bit of their life.

From Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, 1602:

Malvalio:
In my stars I am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

And some are all three.