It's Friday - Let's Get Existential?

It is FRIDAY and I am overjoyed. Some weeks are just too much, and this week is one of them (lots of overtime). I have about 101 tasks to power through today and then I plan to completely check out.

This week was also a reminder of how important it is to take a step back and enjoy life rather than living in the minutia. My colleague who last fall was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer had a second round of brain surgeries yesterday (he is recovering well so far). Today SB's uncle has a second surgery after a recent operation to remove cancer in his jaw resulted in infection (we have high hopes for his recovery).

It is painful to watch those we care about facing such scary and trying circumstances, and it is a reminder that the 101 tasks awaiting us each day are in fact quite trivial. It reminds me of this Francis Bacon quote and this poem by Hafiz...

My great aunt recently passed away and I must say that although she spent much of her life living alone and quite frugally (she then moved closer to family when she began experiencing signs of dementia), she struck me as someone who was really content with her life. She did what she wanted, she found great pleasure in small things, and by all accounts she lived a happy life. She didn't seem to have any regrets and I would bet she didn't even believe in regret.

So at 3:30pm I will leave the office, let the minutia pile up at my desk, and kiss the world in my own way. May you do the same.