Do not be mistaken........life really is too short

A good friend of mine moved into a hospice a few days ago. She has been battling cancer for over a year. For a longer time than anyone expected she seemed to be on top of the cancer but now it seems to be on top of her. She is far too young to be going through this and far too wonderful but I guess the same could be said about most people in this situation. She was diagnosed just before her daughter's first birthday. I saw her a couple of weeks ago on her daughter's second birthday and we talked about the first birthday party and how hard that had been. She said she hadn't expected to be here for the second one so each day to enjoy her daughter has been a bonus to her. She knows her time is coming now and is amazingly cool about it. I don't know how I would be if it was me but I know I'm not cool with it when it is her. It is so unfair. There are some people you meet in life who add something and some who take something away. Well she adds something and has done ever since I first met her. I will just make it clear that we have ever just been good friends and nothing more than that. She is the best of us though. And the world will be missing someone special when she is gone. Her daughter is surrounded by loving people who will make sure she wants for nothing but she will never have the time with her mother that she should have had. I am already heartbroken over this and have been for months. Like I said though, she is cool with this now after fighting it so hard for so long. As I always say.......life is short and should never be taken for granted. Each day is a gift and something good can always be found in each rainy day. 
I know I'm a great one for saying we should all try to live each day to it's fullest extent and fill our lives with love and kindness and all good things. Well that's because it could all be over before you know it. You may think you have years left and you may well have years left. Most of you probably will but you never know. 
Things happen in life and you can find the rug pulled from under you. If there is something you want to do or a place you want to go, just do it or just go there. When it's over, it's over. 

I went to Iceland in July because I knew it was a trip I had been putting off. I don't know why I had been putting it off but I am aware that I had been. So I went. OK. July wouldn't have been my first choice as a month to visit there (it is real peak season) but I had a few days so I went there and I can't tell you how glad I am that I did. I loved it. Everything about it. I will be going back to see more of it as I only had four days there. I stayed five nights in three different hotels. Iceland was so busy I couldn't even get three night together in one hotel so I moved around. The first hotel was a lovely little family run place with a great little restaurant and bar. The second hotel was probably a bit better than I would normally choose but it was very lovely and the people were lovely there too. I had one night there, then two further nights in the third hotel which was a bit more modern and utilitarian but comfortable and welcoming none-the-less. The landscapes of Iceland are something to see. The geology is amazing. The mountains are everywhere. I have never seen waterfalls like I saw on Iceland before. They looked great even in grey overcast weather. The first day I was there was very sunny. The next three days were more cloudy and overcast but the country is amazing and the weather just doesn't matter. There are black beaches from all the volcanic activity (I guess) which are magical. Sea stacks, caves, lava fields, hot pools, the geyser........and so much I didn't even get to see. So I will be going back. I will also be making more trips in general. Taking more time off from working. My work is getting to be too much. I am looking at ways to try and reduce it as life cannot be all about work. There must be more to life than that. There is more to life than that.

So don't let this journal bring you down. It has a sad story in it but I use this experience to ensure I never take any of my days on this planet for granted. I hope you don't either. Do the right things and make the right choices. Spread kindness and love all around you. Make your part of the world a better place if you can. Be the one who makes things better. Be the one who adds something. Don't be the one who takes something away.

And now, you beautiful people, you wonderful, creative, lovely, funny, mad, charming, friendly and loving people. Now it is time to feature some of your art. Please sit back and enjoy some from my favourites from the last couple of months. Get a drink and put your feet up. I hope you will find something to like and if you do, please try to find time to let the artist know. I'm sure they'd be delighted to hear from you.


                   

                                             

                    

                

                

                                 

                                     

               

                     

            

                 

                  
                  

                 

                  
                    

                   

              

                                             

           

                                

                      

             

                

           

Thank you for taking the time to read through this far and look at the pictures All these artists have one thing in common. They love what they do. They are creative and they are passionate. Please let them know they are wonderful people. 
Thank you for all your support and your love. It is people who make life worth living, not things. You all make my life better. You all add to my life.
Take care all of you.......and take care of each other....always. My love to you all