There are very few children in my life which makes today's reverb11 prompt difficult to write about. I've been thinking about it all day...going over the past year in my mind, trying to recall any contact I've had that touched my heart when a story about a young girl, who I will never be able to meet, popped into my head.
Kimberly Joy Costa* lost her battle with Leukemia at age 19. I was fortunate enough to hear her father speak at the Inspiration Dinner held the night before the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon for Team in Training. He shared with us part of the speech Kimberly gave as valedictorian at her high school commencement ceremony held right before her death. She was wise beyond her years and there was not a dry eye in the room.
Kimberly Joy Costa
(July 17, 1981 – July 24, 2000)
“Ten Life Lessons”
(July 17, 1981 – July 24, 2000)
“Ten Life Lessons”
Life Lesson number 10 is “Deal with life one day at a time.” Sometimes when life gets crazy we feel like we’ll never sort everything out. But if we just deal with everything one day and instance at a time, life just has a way of working through things. It also makes life’s circumstances a little less overwhelming.
Life Lesson number 9 is more a word of advice. “Turn every life experience into a learning experience.” The best way I have found to cope with hard times more easily is to become knowledgeable about what is going on and try to find a meaning to everything that happens. Trust me, there is always one there.
Life Lesson number 8 is “Always look for the positive.” No matter how bad life can get, there is always a positive to be found. If you focus on the positive aspects of life, the hard times are easier to get through. The power of positive thinking is amazing, and it works.
Life Lesson number 7 is another piece of advice. “Try to do at least one new thing everyday.” Much to often, people get into a routine of doing the same thing everyday and their lives become boring. The new thing doesn’t have to be big. It can be something really small like taking a different route to work, or trying a new kind of food. Make a wish list for yourself of new stuff you want to try. Some things can be small and others, big. Plan on completing one of those things each day and by the end of everyday your life will be that much more full.
Life Lesson number 6 is “Be true to yourself.” No matter what happens in your life, if you are true to yourself and confident about who you are, you can overcome anything. Always stick to who you are and don’t worry if people are going to accept you or not. If you are confident with yourself, it will show and the people who really matter will accept you for who you are, not for why you are not.
Life Lesson number 5 is “Touch as many lives as you can.” Every time you meet someone new, you leave a little bit of yourself with them. They are affected by you. The more people you meet, the more complete both their and your lives are because of how you have been affected by each other. Think of the possibilities.
Life Lesson number 4 is “Enjoy the little things.” Although the big accomplishments in life are important, sometimes it’s the little things in life that are more enjoyable. The conversations with your best friend in the middle of the night, or a quiet moment somewhere peaceful where you were just able to think can add up to be much more important and memorable than any big thing.
Life Lesson number 3 is “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Many times in life, people begin getting concerned with petty things. What people forget is that in the long run, it doesn’t matter what “he said” or what “she did.” It’s not worth your time to get worked up about anything small or petty.
Life Lesson number 2 is “Hold on to your friends.” No matter what happens in your life, good or bad, your friends will be there for you. Whether it is a pat on the back or a shoulder to cry on that you need, your friends are there for you always.
Life Lesson number 1 is “Make everyday count.” Lif is short and we never know how long we are going to have. We must live life to the fullest EVERYDAY. Everything we do should have a greater purpose. We should never throw any opportunities away.
Our lives will continue to be impacted by our friendships, generosity, compassion and spirit. As each of us works each day to be the person we want to be, remember my favorite quote from the Broadway play “Rent” – “No Day But Today.”
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