Let’s Celebrate Life

I need some light in my life. Lately it’s been one death after the other. Next week will be the third funeral within the span of one month.

We sadly lost another family member on Monday. Rest in peace, Aunty Eileen. You will surely be missed. Who will now bake my mother’s 60th birthday cake come December, or any other cake needed for the coming birthdays and celebrations?

Apart from your outstanding, much loved and appreciated cooking and baking skills that brought joy to any event, your strong presence has had such an impact on us all.

And while I’ve been surrounded by too much death, I believe it’s time we find some light in the midst of all this darkness.

There is always light somewhere, we just need to look a little bit harder. Sometimes it’s even right in front of us, we just can’t see it. Where there is darkness, there is light. It’s just that sometimes the darkness seems so overwhelming that it is hard to see the light.

Who said death should always be a heavy emotional burden of hopeless tears? I know it’s easier said than done. Celebrating life is almost impossible to do for someone who is about to lay to rest a loved one. While I know it would be a great challenge, I wonder why we cry hopeless tears when we should actually cry tears of joy for the life we had the privilege of being part of?

Aunty Eileen did what she loved. She enjoyed every moment of being in the kitchen. And during her career as a chef, she grew from strength to strength over the years. We were privileged and honoured to have such a special cook and baker as part of the family.

On top of that, she was a woman with a strong opinion, an attribute that often informed decisions in the family. She gave birth to four beautiful daughters who are on their way to becoming great success stories and she remained committed and loyal to one man – her husband for decades, till death did them part.

And while it is very sad to lose such an exceptional woman, wife, mother, sister and friend, we have so much to celebrate about her life. I completely understand the heartache experienced by her husband and daughters, and those closest to her, but I am hopeful that Aunty Eileen’s passing will not be seen merely as a loss but that her life will be celebrated.

Her existence will be cherished, and her legacy will inspire future generations.

Herein lies my message: Let us acknowledge the loss when a beloved passes on, but let us also celebrate their lives and the privilege we had to share it with them. Also, let us celebrate our own lives.

You do not have to wait for the memorial service to express what someone meant to you. Why not let them know while they are still alive? Why not appreciate the people in your lives right now and love them as best you can while they are still alive, instead of waiting for their funeral?

It saddens me that most people’s lives have more meaning and value when they die.

Let’s love, care, support and be there for one another as best we can while we still have each other. Let’s be the best we can to someone while they are still alive and in our midst instead of living with regrets after they have passed on. Because later may be too late.

Till next time, cheers.

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