Today in the UK, many people from all walks of life are remembering their lost loved ones. The community comes together and pulls together to create a day of love, for why else would we be remembering those lost to our day-to-day lives, if not for LOVE?!
The act of remembrance is within us all. Most of us mourn or grieve for someone. It's natural. I love that we find this time to love, to give thanks, and to smile in celebration of people's lives too! Sorrow and joy are so closely united. For most of us, one normally follows the other, as if we are playing tag! This is natural too, and is referred to as perfect balance.
I believe that for us to truly understand and appreciate love, we will be required to measure it somehow, against something else that doesn't feel quite so good! Then it's up to us to live in a state in which we feel most comfortable. It's rare that someone living doesn't know of someone close to them that has died. This being the case, we will all have felt some kind of sorrow, before we pass away ourselves.
Now, I am someone who has lost people very close to me through industrial disease, knife crime, cancer, and through 'natural' causes as well. I miss them and mourn them and remember them through the connection we had when they were alive in human form and therefore visible to me. Because their bodies have died, I cannot see them or hold them, however I can feel them and see them around me, in the special legacies they have left behind. This is what comforts me.
The 'fallen' War Heroes are remembered for their acts of bravery. Their total acts of contribution in offering their lives to save the lives of others, and therefore, their commitment to love. Because they didn't return, we love them even more, and we remember them at the Festival of Remembrance and specifically at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. It has been this way for 90 years, since Armistice day on 11th November 1918, the end of the Great War, World War I.
As creature of habits, we continue to mourn, to remember, to love and to fight! What would be a beautiful commemoration to our lost loved ones, would be the world at peace. Everyone loving one another one day after another. Every day, and in every way.
There are so many reasons to love, and we strive to do so by setting aside time for memories, for family time, for socialising, for companionship, for intimacy, for laughs and for tears. Perfect.
Let's all remember at this time, that the moment we forget about love, in anger, in rage or in temper, we take away the love within us, which has provided us with so much peace and happiness. We also dare to share our disruption with others and so we pass on our discomfort, rather than our love. Remember this, when next you hear, see or do something that is not connected with love.
I am positive that with the 'Festival of Remembrance and Love' being a daily act of kindness by all, in addition to a yearly commemoration, the world will be a better place for you and for me.
As this last thought came to mind, so did another; The timeless lyrics of Michael Jackson's chorus in 'Heal the World'..
"Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me".
I do hope this thought is as poignant for you as it is for me.
I have loved tripping off down memory lane with you today, and I encourage YOU to go there, and relive fond, happy and loving memories whenever you feel the need or desire. Take 2 minutes to recall anything you know will bring you to a state of grace and love, at the 11th hour on the forthcoming 11th day of the 11th month; 11am on 11th November. Then share that memory with someone and feel your heart burst with love. If your eyes fill with tears too, then you really did find something special to recall. Join me in a global hug and make love and peace the order of the day.
I wish you peace and love, and happy memories, on this Remembrance weekend, and forever more.
Til next time, thank you for your love. If you hadn't felt something, you wouldn't still be reading!
Blessings to you and yours,
Andrea Nicole Smart
