I tend to believe whatever you decide to look for you will find, whatever you beckon will eventually beckon you.
(Amy Krouse Rosenthal)
This morning I read of the death of Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
She was an author, filmmaker and public speaker who died yesterday from ovarian cancer at the age of 51.
Her passing immediately hit home with me since I turned 51 last month.
At the age of 40, she began calculating how many days she had left until she turned 80.
How many more times, then, do I get to look at a tree?” she asked. “Let’s just say it’s 12,395. Absolutely, that’s a lot, but it’s not infinite, and I’m thinking anything less than infinite is too small a number and not satisfactory. At the very least, I want to look at trees a million more times. Is that too much to ask?
Her favorite line from literature is spoken in “Our Town,” by the character, Emily, as she bids the world goodbye:
“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?”
A believer in the magic of numbers, she started The Beckoning of Lovely Project on 8/08/08 at 8:08 p.m. and continued it annually for the next few years (9/09/09; 10/10/10; 11/11/11).
You can find them all on her website here.
I found them all to be so inspiring.
Make the Most of Your Time Here
is a message that she shared many times in her TedXTalks and videos.
Her last article for the New York Times was published March 3rd entitled,
Right up to the end, she remained passionate, humorous and kind.
And she believed in magic.
May she rest in peace.
And she believed in magic.
20 comments:
Such a lovely post Tammy. Tom is now 77 and I am 71 and we both wonder how many more times we will witness the wonderful thing that is spring. Each year we are grateful to watch the buds bursting on the trees and the bulbs poking through. I can see exactly what this lovely lady was getting at.
Hugs
Briony
x
I was so sad to hear of her passing. One of my favorite books is The Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. I'm so glad she shared her creativity with us.
I just became aware of Amy after reading about the article she wrote as you have mentioned (I haven't read the original article). And then I read she passed the other day. I hadn't known she was so close to the end. My heart breaks for just the tiny bit I know of this woman, who selflessly hoped for the best after she was gone for the love of her life. I'm not familiar with her work~~ I will definitely look it up.
Thanks for a great post, Tammy.
Jane x
Goodness.. 51 is awfully young to leave this earth. It sounds like she left wonderful gifts to the world before she left. I also feel like I'll be lucky to have another 10 years and it's sad to think it's so short a time. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Beautiful, touching thoughts shared. People leave this earth at all ages, as any look at the weekly obits prooves - young children, vibrant teenagers, young adults, those in their 40s, 50s, and yes, the elderly if we're so lucky, but even then in my Mom's case - nearly 87 with her mind rapidly going and tias happening at any given moment, I'm not so sure I want to live to that age if that's the case. Life is a great mystery and you are so right - it's not long at all. Trying to make the most of every moment, here in a little college town in central Illinois. :)
Blessings,
Linda
I agree we all need to live life to the fullest, but I find it hard to do! So sad she was taken from us so early in life. Cancer sucks.
Cindy
I don't think I'm familiar with her but it sounds like she was a passionate, positive person. I will have to listen and read up on her. Sometimes when I see that someone has died before we think it is their time....that maybe they just lived more in the time they did have. It sounds like she gave of herself more in 51 years than some of us give in longevity. It's not death that bothers me but the suffering in getting there and those that are left behind to mourn.
I heard about her passing. It definitely does make one stop and think about how all of our days are numbered. Nice thoughts she left us with.
xx Beca
Such a wonderful tribute Tammy and it does make you stop and think doesn't it? I've had a not very fun past couple of years as you well know, but I am still blessed to see the sunrise and set each day. Thank you for the reminder to live each day fully.
Blessings,
Betsy
I really appreciated this post now that I am approaching 70 in just a couple years-which I can not wrap my head around at all-I have thought about how much time I have left-I don't dwell on it but I now try to have more quality time instead of wasting time thanks for the post
So very sad, life is indeed too short I can totally relate. A lovely tribute Tammy. :) xx
She sounds like a wise woman. She certainly seemed to know how to "seize the day."
SHe was very wise and died much too young. Why does that happen? We should indeed enjoy every moment.
Tammy...always, loving posts. I am testing this "no reply blogger" thing again.
So very sad. I was thinking the same thing myself recently. I am in my sixties, and it is hard to think I have less years in front of me. Emily's speech in Our Town is one of the most heartbreaking passages in writings. Kit
.
A wise and wonderful post, Tammy. She was an amazing woman and a sad loss.
Amalia
xo
Hi Tammy, We have to enjoy every moment and live the moment, always keep the spring in us ...
Dearest Tammy,
Wow, I have read her long letter: You may want to marry my husband... Didn't know that is her, at the time I read it.
You are already for many, many years a great disciple of her outlook on life.
Yes, it is the little things that create happiness!
A secret that can only be found by those that stop and LOOK for the little treasures around us; every day.
Each day is another gift to us with many hidden treasures inside.
I'm way behind in reading blogs. Finished my other Fleur de Lys curtain and I've been biking again with my husband and today in my short sleeved t-shirt with skort. Feels so good to have the sun back and 80s after the ugly 26 degree frost that turned all azaleas brown and even most young leaves. Our Japanese magnolia trees look awful with their brown leaves. The two young pomegranate trees are completely brown, they look dead to me.
But we cannot let our head hang and mourn about those things; life goes on!
Monday I will be cooking again dinner here at home for Pieter's Monday Night Club and someone else is doing the program. Always joyful and I will try to do my best again.
Sending you hugs,
Mariette
You have always shared her philosophy in your own way of seeing life, Tammy. Kindred spirits. I so appreciate your focus on the beauty and grace that surround us daily and your gentle reminders to live fully embracing the gift of each day. Thank you for all your inspiration. blessings and hugs ~ tanna
Very moving post dear Tammy.
Life certainly is fragile and each moment is a gift.
Keep enjoying the little things...because in the end they are all little things.
oxo
Post a Comment