Since my brother died last year, death, funerals and the fragility of life have taken on a special and raw meaning to me.  It doesn’t take too much to get me teary eyed when I think about the memories and moments in life that won’t be shared with him.  His son turning 21 this month, was just one of those milestones.  Richard would have loved any excuse to have a party and a beer, and of course tell a joke or two in celebration.

Attending two funeral recently, one a work colleague and the other, a best friend’s mum are all the reminders that I need, to continue to cherish, love and take time for family and friends.  We are lucky in New Zealand to live a life that is relatively safe and be in a country far enough away from fractions of countries at war.  The television, newspapers, and general media populate our minds with images and stories of life at its most vulnerable.  What happened in Paris recently, the innocent lives taken not just there, but in all parts of the globe are all the reminders that we need; life is precious.

Living with the loss of a loved one isn’t easy.  The cliche ‘You don’t know what you have until it is gone’ is so true.   Life isn’t about being lucky.  Life is about taking chances and being happy and grateful for what you have.