Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan / shot on the iPhone 11
Two days ago, I received a text message from a contact in distress over an unfortunate happening with a delivery from my former company. To summarize his experience, this gentlemen used the phrase:
This is a nightmare.
In light of the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine and with February 25th marking the day my Dad passed away, I have to ask myself:
“What is a nightmare? Really?”
While I feel for the unfortunateness of this experience this man and his colleagues were dealing with, my first thought was wow, if this is a nightmare, I really feel for you my friend because, brah, let me tell you how much you are in for it when real nightmares find you.
I called him to share that I was no longer working at my former company and gave him some different points of contact, on top of which, I followed up in person yesterday with someone I was having lunch with. I strive to do what I can to assist, but the “This is a nightmare” stuck with me as I meditated on the heaviness that Life brings and my walk with Grief.
Over the past week, I’ve thought a great deal about my Dad. I think of him regardless but as February 25th approaches, and passes, it seems the frequency of how I think about Dad, increases. One of the smaller thoughts that came up was, wow, Dad would be 75 years young if he were still alive. Last year, as getting married was on the horizon for us, I was saddened not to get to share that experience with him.
Many times in recent weeks, I kept seeing 10:11 on the clock, with October 11th Dad’s birthday (and also my parents anniversary).
The other day, while meditating early one morning, I swear to you that I saw the hat man!
Now, whether you believe in shadow people and the hat man or not, I had a clear visual of a man in a dark clothes, red shirt, wearing a top hat, looking back at me. I can’t say this is exactly related to my musing on my Dad, and work’s been pretty stressful at times, but yeah, let’s talk about nightmares…
Other nightmares? My heart’s also been heavy as I observe the world, the endless violence, the lack of compassion for others and people refusing to come together.
There are real nightmares, for sure, and of varying degree.
One person’s work nightmare is valid, and I’ll never take that away. While that might not register on the scale of a life nightmare for another, there be nightmares that walk with us, some behind, other in lockstep, and I’m certain, more ahead.
May peace be with you along the Journey my friends and remember to carry perspective with you, and seek the Love within each moment. Just like the nightmares, even more so is there Love throughout.