Years ago I met a woman whose two adult children had gone to Greece on a holiday and during their trip, they got into a car accident which killed them both. Less than a year had passed since they had died when my friend asked me to accompany him to pay a short visit to this woman, whom I didn't know, one afternoon. I had with me, my first daughter who was only one year old at that time. We went to her apartment to have tea and I never saw her again. But I'll never forget what she said to me that warm afternoon in her London apartment, "Celebrate any little thing you can with your daughter. No matter how small", she said, "I used to do it with my son and my daughter who have been taken away from my life". Three times she repeated this word to me: "Celebrate,celebrate. Celebrate".
I feel like I am back in that livingroom listening to that woman whom I met 26 years ago. Whose name I do not know, but her eyes I never forgot. Because in them, I saw the pain of her loss as she was looking at my little girl...
Thank you for sharing such a moving story. Sounds like the woman you met (as well as my mother as shared in the article) understood something that many of us only learn after life shakes us awake. That the tiny, ordinary moments that we usually don’t know about are often the ones that really matter. It is not about pretending life is perfect. It is about noticing what is here while it is still here.
I try to learn something from everyone or any situation, and obviously, as much as I'd like to think otherwise, it is not the case every time, not because there is not something to be learned, but my own shortcomings, and often ego gets in the way. I find that at times I gather great knowledge from certain people, but rarely do I find those who have an energy that is so powerful, that just their mere presence is a gift. You my friend don't pass on simple knowledge, you pass on wisdom. I love your writings. Thank you.
Camilo, thank you for taking the time to write this. I read it slowly.
What you share about the ego and shortcomings is very human. We all miss lessons sometimes and it could be because we are not fully listening or taking the time to internalize the emotion or situation. I admire and appreciate the honesty and self-awareness
I’m grateful that the Note resonated with you, and that the idea my mom passed on continues to travel through others. If you think of someone who could benefit from these reflections, please feel free to share them. And if you feel curious, there are other Notes that thread on the idea of being human, vulnerability and humanity.
Wow I am honoured to be your mom I am so proud of you for the person and professional you have become you enlighten every room every space and every person you touch with you words actions and even silence. Thank you!!
Years ago I met a woman whose two adult children had gone to Greece on a holiday and during their trip, they got into a car accident which killed them both. Less than a year had passed since they had died when my friend asked me to accompany him to pay a short visit to this woman, whom I didn't know, one afternoon. I had with me, my first daughter who was only one year old at that time. We went to her apartment to have tea and I never saw her again. But I'll never forget what she said to me that warm afternoon in her London apartment, "Celebrate any little thing you can with your daughter. No matter how small", she said, "I used to do it with my son and my daughter who have been taken away from my life". Three times she repeated this word to me: "Celebrate,celebrate. Celebrate".
I feel like I am back in that livingroom listening to that woman whom I met 26 years ago. Whose name I do not know, but her eyes I never forgot. Because in them, I saw the pain of her loss as she was looking at my little girl...
Thank you for sharing such a moving story. Sounds like the woman you met (as well as my mother as shared in the article) understood something that many of us only learn after life shakes us awake. That the tiny, ordinary moments that we usually don’t know about are often the ones that really matter. It is not about pretending life is perfect. It is about noticing what is here while it is still here.
I try to learn something from everyone or any situation, and obviously, as much as I'd like to think otherwise, it is not the case every time, not because there is not something to be learned, but my own shortcomings, and often ego gets in the way. I find that at times I gather great knowledge from certain people, but rarely do I find those who have an energy that is so powerful, that just their mere presence is a gift. You my friend don't pass on simple knowledge, you pass on wisdom. I love your writings. Thank you.
Camilo, thank you for taking the time to write this. I read it slowly.
What you share about the ego and shortcomings is very human. We all miss lessons sometimes and it could be because we are not fully listening or taking the time to internalize the emotion or situation. I admire and appreciate the honesty and self-awareness
I’m grateful that the Note resonated with you, and that the idea my mom passed on continues to travel through others. If you think of someone who could benefit from these reflections, please feel free to share them. And if you feel curious, there are other Notes that thread on the idea of being human, vulnerability and humanity.
Thank you for reading!
Wow I am honoured to be your mom I am so proud of you for the person and professional you have become you enlighten every room every space and every person you touch with you words actions and even silence. Thank you!!
Mom, if I ever win a prize for anything in life, I am forwarding this message as proof that you were my original hype-woman. Thank you for this :)