What a lovely rainy day to be random.

Rainy day Monday
BUT
maybe the best of the days to get the rain over with
everyone eases into Mondays
personally, i was never a fan of you, Mondays

as i get older, i grow more thankful for my Mondays
every week is a new start
as is everyday
etc etc

next time you find yourself complaining about the rain, 
STOP
and remember the people that aren't here to step out into it 

water
element of the west
rain is refreshing, cleansing, healing
all the things you're looking for

guess its a "look for the silver lining" day
look for the good in all situations
easier said then done but also a good place to insert the "fake it til you make it" adage

TRY acting happy and it starts to catch on
good advice because
NO ONE
ever died from an sudden epidemic of happiness

there's plenty of time on a sunny day to investigate our troubles
or pick apart our lives

go against the grain, be the fool that smiles in the rain

say hello to people you pass on the street, (yes, im telling you to talk to strangers ;)
hug your friends, tell them why you love them
be random- its a rain day!

feed your soul
daily

(do you remember what your soul needs to survive? if not, figure THAT out too!)

i'm off  to play some happy tunes , you?

XXX

Skittles and SILVER LININGS

yesterday i had the privilege of meeting some EXTREMELY wonderful people
i had the fortune of being in a room with many, MANY people that were EASY PEASY to categorize (not that we re supposed to label BUT...)
"brilliant" is the first word that came to my mind

I was honoured to be in a roomful of brilliant people that all shared one thing
their love for our friend, Scott (Skittles) who had passed on
how do i KNOW that these people are brilliant, you ask?

first off, he would expect no less from his friends hahaha
i daresay if they didnt have his fabulous sense of wit or didnt "get" his humour,
they likely wouldnt have been there

PS hugging each other and helping to relieve grief is a BANG UP way to meet someone for the first time..... yikes, right? Then again, im a big fan of hugging...
ALSO
if you dont believe in energy exchange, youve never consoled or have been consoled by a TRUE hug or hand hold.

sometimes when words fail, hugs are all we have to offer <3

it's what life is ALL about
CONNECTING- thanks for the reminder, Skittles

dear scott,

let me make this note short but sweet

I have NEVER laughed at an eulogy IN MY LIFE! until yesterday AND FOR THAT, I am thankful (Cudos, Mark, no wonder you and Skittles were tight).
EVERYONE there yesterday loved you and your humour and man oh man, we NEEDED those laughs, we miss you dearly

we craved the type of stories that people NEED to hear on such a sad occasion
stories about you that made us smile, laugh and REALIZE that it was ok to do JUST that

i PROMISED myself i wouldnt cry (ya, i know what a joke, eh?)
i promised myself i would do my best to be cheery and remind people you wouldn't want us to be sad
i know you would want that

the irony of meeting new friends at a memorial service is not lost on me
kinda weird, right?  Yeah ....... but you were weird. As am I- guess that's why we got along ....

you have some wonderful friends, Skittles, i use the present term "have"
because they will ALWAYS be your friends and they will ALWAYS honour your memory
through stories and the many good laughs they shared with you.....
You couldn't have asked for a better send off, my friend
well,well,  look at me finding the silver linings we used to talk about!

Thanks for the final kick in the ass to keep writing,

<3
Me


PS ("the Professor" from Gilligans Island died today)

 Well played Skittles, Im glad you enjoyed my last post.

Gilligan's Island, I KNEW IT!

If you're not well versed in the 5 stages of grief- let me give you the quick run down

.......denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

FACT: You WILL dance through each and every one of these emotions.

Every time I lose a friend, I ask Mr Google about the stages of grief and I make note as I sail through them....
Choosing the word SAIL because it can be a rough and rocky sea of emotions but you will get through them all.
Last week I learned of a good friend's death. He was a brilliant writer so I thought it made the best sense for me to write again.

Dear Scott,

I know no other way to communicate to you because THIS is the way we spoke for so many years.
Denial comes easy at the news of your death. "No fucking way" was my first thought......
SADLY, the anger came EASILY and swiftly.
"For fuck sakes, Scott, SOOO many people loved you. Adored you by the look of your memorial page."
"HOW HOW HOW could you put your girlfriend and mother through this HELL???"

......and about hell, yup, we spoke of that too...........
hell was here on earth
our separate belief systems agreed on one thing
people are sheeple- don't be THAT.
there wasn't much we didn't speak of and we took turns at calling each other "crazy" for years.

We are two very different people that exchanged light and dark thoughts for a long while
I cannot lie, I only "bargained" very briefly because i KNEW that NO ONE but YOU could help you...
even surrounded by love, you felt it hard to let it in

I met you when MY life was very dark and you shared the light that you had in you at the time.
for THAT, I will always remember to help people even when I am down. Quite the lesson, Mr Scott hahha I thank you for that

Wait, before I get too sappy because I know you would hate that, Mr Google has presented me with new knowledge today.
You used to say it was important to learn something new everyday. So here it is.....

Gilligans Island Syndrome

 Mr Google says, "If the bereaved were not present when the person died and then not see the deceased prior to cremation or burial-
 complicated or protracted bereavement may result. Many will report fantasies that their loved ones are not really dead; that it was a big mistake.
“Maybe they exist on an island somewhere” (these authors have coined that delusion the “Gilligan’s Island Syndrome”)"

OMFG that's it! You have gone to Gilligan's Island! Why wouldn't you? Life is simpler there and everyone is ageless and never in pain or darkness.
I heard you laugh today as I decided to pass depression and sail into ACCEPTANCE. This Gilligan's Island gig makes me smile and if I know ONE THING
i KNOW you loved to keep us ALL laughing.

I will remember you fondly ALWAYS and help your friends and family remember that you don't want them to be sad. Say hi to Gilligan for me!

Bye for now,

Your rebel friend, Lilith