Loss of a Friend

This past Saturday night, my work family suffered a tragic loss. A close coworker very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away while he was swimming laps in a pool. It’s believed that he suffered a heart attack and wasn’t found in the pool until it was too late. He was mid-60s but was overall quite healthy so nobody saw this coming. The past 48 hours has been difficult to say the least. He was a true “man of the people” and cared tremendously about his work family as much as he did his own family. He is survived by his wife and 2 daughters. I’ve personally known him for over 12 years and we became quite close in that time. He was somewhat of a father figure to me which makes it more than just the passing of someone I knew. I reflect on the times we had together and actually became angry as to why this would/could happen. Had I known, I would have been more mindful about spending time with him. Of course, anyone can say that in a time like this but you never really think about it until someone is actually gone. It’s tragic. One positive is that his passing motivated me to cherish the time I have with people I care about. Be more mindful of these moments and to look upon everyone in a positive light. Be kinder, less grumpy about work or life stressors, reach out to someone who I think may be having a hard time. It’s hard to remember these things in day to day life but we never know how much time with someone we truly have. It’s important to come together at a time like this as a family and be there. It’s what he would have wanted. He will be missed.

My current Challenge progress as of December 23, 2024.