I'm mostly open and honest about my ups and downs in life. I take each day as I can, aim to walk on the sunny side of the street and do my very best to see the glimpses of light through the clouds. Like most outwardly strong people you would never know I fight with the black dog, if you were to meet me by chance. Even those who know me very well, don't see the effects of me 'coping' with reality. The more society accepts diversity and difference, the more we see people who open up and admit, that sometimes, life/living is hard. I know that some people who read this, will identify with this and some will not want to and see such remarks as self pitying and weak in some way. Well, you know what, I'm one of those who can and will admit it.
I often hear my own children, family members, friends, people I know questioning 'the point' of it all. We now live in a world where we are defined by things that don't really matter; what we 'do', what we 'earn', how we 'live'. It's about 'lifestyle'. Yesterday, I was given the good advice to not waste this bit of free time. I can assure you, I've no intention of wasting any of my life ever again. Life is for family time, for being in the company of people I love and who love me. It's about community and being part of it, it's about growing our own food, creating our own art and nurturing our own souls.
An untimely death will often trigger and remind us all that life is so very precious. A flight returning to Brize Norton, a union flag draped coffin, roadside flowers at a fatality, the suicide of a strong and courageous individual whose life changed the day he went to work. We've all heard the sad news of the death of David Rathband, the police officer who survived being shot at point blank range by Raol Moat. The gun wounds 'got him' in the end; we can only imagine that living what must have been 'what was left' of his life, wasn't enough for him. David, to so many people, appeared so strong, so heroic, tackling new challenges heroically even though he was left blind. It is so often, those who seem 'fine, who are outwardly 'ok', who inwardly live in a shadowy place and just try and get on with it the best they can.
In a world where we are defined by what we 'do', no longer being able to do that often changes the perceptions of others towards them. Being a decent, loving and caring person will always be enough for me............it has to be. RIP David, you were a decent, brave, heroic and wonderful man and that's how you shall always be remembered.
Love Froogs
26 comments:
Very sad news, I hope he has found peace now. I really like what you said " Life is for family time, for being in the company of people I love and who love me. its about community and being part of it, its about growing our own food, creating our own art and nuturing our own souls". Very well said and really reasonated with me, thank you x
Thanks for this post Froogs. This man was incredibly brave - but it seems that, sadly, the awful experience and the aftermath of the shooting was too much for him to bear.
Everyone's life has ups and downs, joys and griefs - and we cannot see into someone else's heart and know how they are TRULY coping.
Your reminder that we need to live each day fully, and love and support one another is well-timed.
Life is precious, and so is the love of our friends and family. 'Things' are ephemeral.
We should strive to be measured not by the colour of our skin, the collection of our possessions -- but by the content of our character.
RIP David.
I agree with you totally Froogs. Someone once said that "getting and spending we lay waste our powers"( I think it might have been Wordsworth) and I have always remembered that. It seems such a sane comment.m
A beautiful tribute to a very stand-up man. Thank you for sharing.
I was saddened to read of his death, Roul Moat claimed far more than his sight when he shot him.
I too suffer with the black dog especially in the winter, keeping positive is hard sometimes.
Sad news but its how a person lived thier lives that is important.
Coping with a very stressful job can leave you running on empty and it takes a while to get over that. I hope this break will build up your reserves so you can make your life what you want and deserve. Life is precious - so sad for this man that he wasn't able to feel that
When it happened I thought how dreadful but I have to be honest I forgot about it. when I saw the headline in the Daily Mail that he lost his sight, his job, his wife and his marriage it makes you realise how tragic it all is. thanks for this post. I have a Black dog with me at the moment and he wont go away, i don't normally get this low and I needed to read this to realise things are not so bad after all. love you xx
When it happened I thought how dreadful but I have to be honest I forgot about it. when I saw the headline in the Daily Mail that he lost his sight, his job, his wife and his marriage it makes you realise how tragic it all is. thanks for this post. I have a Black dog with me at the moment and he wont go away, i don't normally get this low and I needed to read this to realise things are not so bad after all. love you xx
So true froggs. ive alwayts put family first. When my dad got ill with cancer I took along break from work and nursed him. Money was tight but he always referred to me as his nurse and was cared for at home. Hes now at peace, but im so glad I did what I did.
Thanks Froogs.
RIP David.
- Pam
I was saddened to read this news too. People who cause these things would never think of the effect of their crimes. Life is cruel.
So true, we never really know how others are feeling.
RIP David Rathband
So true, we never really know how others are feeling.
RIP David Rathband
I can only agree with all your comments.
David Rathband was hero.
It is sad that things like this happen in life but they do.
It is also sad that politicians like Theresa May say they were privileged to of met David Rathband , If I remember rightly When Teresa May met David Rathband it was when she was talking cuts in the police service and it was David Rathband who stood in front of her and asked her if she thought he was paid too much for his job !!
RIP David
Such sad news the poor guy went to hell and back! They put their lives on the line everyday and still the government want to duck out of paying their pensions! Pensions that they pay a huge amount into themselves btw Something I used to begrudge when friends who weren't doing the same were much better off!
well said, good post
Josie x
That bought a tear to my eye x
A wonderful post, Froogs.
Sue xx
I totally agree, I still struggle too, most days in fact, but I would nto change my life the way it is now, there is something to be said for a simple life. And to those who Judge, "but by the grace of God there go I" somthing my mother always used to say x
Very very sad news. I hope he is at peace. x
Amen to that ... no-one know what goes on when the doors are closed and every one leaves xx
Have you ever read or learned about something and then days later heard about the very thing you just learned?? I read the deaths in Wikipedia and read about the death of this police constable. Being Canadian, I had never heard of this case. Next thing I read your post. Such a sad case all around. I hope his family will be okay.
Such a touching post.
X x
Fantastic post FQ xx
As I said to my husband on hearing the news report and the quote that 'the police weren't looking for anyone else in connection with his death' - No it's too late for that the person responsible for this is long since dead
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