THE JOURNEY: I was walking out of the grocery store a while back, and saw a gentleman walking in. Now that is not unusual of course, but it was how he was walking in that stood out. Tears streaming down his face, walking very slowly, sagging shoulders and a dazed expression that said he didn't know or care what was going on around him. I immediately saw myself from nine months earlier. I thought about stopping him and telling him I know what he is going through. It is interesting that what really happened was that intuition kicked in and stopped me. No matter what was happening to him at that exact moment or me earlier, it was ours and ours alone. Allowing someone to grieve without interference sometimes is the most valuable gift you can give. "Know when to hold um, and know when to walk away"

TACKLING GHOSTS

THOSE THAT GO HOME BEFORE US
TAKE WITH THEM SMALL PIECES
OF EACH OF US LEFT BEHIND

LOOKING OVER A LIFE TIME SO FAR
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MEMORIES
OF FATHERS, MOTHERS, SISTERS AND BROTHERS
SONS AND DAUGHTERS, GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDFATHERS

YOU CHOOSE HOW YOU TREAT THE GHOSTS OF THE PAST
FREEDOM COMES WHEN YOU CAN REMEMBER
EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM
AS CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR CURRENT PATH

GOOD OR BAD, HAPPY OR SAD
TACKLE THE GHOSTS WITH GRACE
KEEP YOUR HEART OPEN TO THE LESSONS LEARNED
AND REJOICE THAT THEY ARE STILL WITH YOU