green leaves

I was talking to a colleague yesterday about the sudden death of another colleague earlier this week.

She was telling me that it has made her very sad

but at the same time

it makes her think twice about her own life

how she should enjoy each moment

and not wait to do things - just do them! Live!

People say things like this a lot.

They also say things like

"everything happens for a reason"

as a way of comforting themselves when the inexplicable, inconceivable happens and they are left searching for meaning in the face of tragedy.

I am an atheist.

I think that things do happen for a reason

but I believe it all comes down to science

not to the guiding hand of an unmerciful God.

(I actually find scientific explanations way more comforting than the idea that someone up above thinks it's ok to allow things to happen like tragic, early death, cancer or natural disasters)

I think she's right in saying that we should live life fully and not put off things that we want to do

but I don't think that it's a natural state for people to live in.

You can't live each day as though you're going to die tomorrow

but you can try to open your eyes to what's going on around you, enjoy the sunsets and the stars

and see how funny and entertaining the world can be.

But she said something else that has stayed with me.

It struck me as profound.

She was saying that it's fall and she should enjoy the leaves changing colour when she walks around outside.

In the spring we see everything growing and turning green - full of life.

But now we see the leaves turning yellow and we expect them to fall.

But sometimes the green ones fall too.