Making the Best of Our Time Together

2017 ended with the tragic plane crash in Costa Rica that took the lives of Shorecrest family members, Mitch, Leslie, Hannah, and Ari Weiss. The memorial ceremonies, funerals, symbols of support like moments of silence and arm bands will be some of the ways we move through the grieving process for the loss of a family of very special individuals.

Admittedly, one of the ways I have learned to process death and loss is to see the lessons the deceased have left behind and seek ways to build upon those strengths. During the memorial service at Shorecrest the Tuesday after the tragedy, friends of Hannah shared that her final posts were about the great time she and her family were having together. Wouldn’t we all want to say that our final moments together were great?

It will take a long time for many members of our community to process the enormity of the tragedy that, in an instant, wiped out the lives of four very special members of the Shorecrest and St. Petersburg community. Our vulnerability as individuals, and as families, was exposed. Our respect for the talents and blessings these four individuals shared with the community were magnified. Loss does that.

More than one writer this past week commented on the importance of making the best of our lives and making the best of our time together with family, friends, and colleagues. I share their sentiments. While I had an article written about resolutions, the resolution to make the best of our time together seems like a worthy act.

During the memorial at school, I referred to a traditional Jewish phrase that Shorecrest parents Jay and Sandy Epstein shared with me when reflecting on the lives of Mitch and Leslie Weiss. They mentioned that Mitch and Leslie were models of “tikkun olam,” a Jewish expression that means “repair the world.” Simply put, if we all do our part to make the world a better place, it will become a better place. Mitch and Leslie were rearing children who were interested in making the world a better place. Above and beyond their careers as physicians, the Drs. Weiss were sharing with the world children who would carry on their life-saving work in their own individual ways. They were a family that was making the best of their time together.

As we begin this new year of 2018, my wish for all of us is that we will find positive and productive ways to make the best of our time together. Yes, life is precious.

Fondly and with Cheers!

Mike


If you are looking for ways to talk to your children and help them process their feelings, Hospice has an article that Shorecrest Counselor Kate Fierce has shared: https://hospicenet.org/html/talking.html