We all need first hand experience to truly understand

I am always amazed at the interconnectedness of things. When I overheard people talking yesterday about “yet another shooting in America” and “It can only happen in America” I wanted to go up to them and explain that I actually know someone who works there. Unfortunately until you have a first hand reason to experience the anxious wait for news, you are detached from the proceedings. We can carry on with our own lives as if something so far away cannot have an impact on our own version of the here and now. The “it can’t happen to me syndrome” is still very prevalent in today’s society.

Which of course got me thinking about what is really important. Unless you can “see it” and experience first hand what it is you want to achieve, your dreams and goals will remain on the drawing board. But if you apply what I term the “do or die” rating, either you do what you need to do or you or a loved one will die as a result of your inaction – the whole process takes on a whole new meaning.

This was brought back to me in a very real and fundamental way as I waited for news – what is really important?

And the answer to that question came from two very different people:

A fellow reader of the Daily Dose summed it up:

Hi Elle,
 
I just wanted to echo your sentiment, that life is short, and we
should be putting our effort into the things that matter.
Yesterday, my seemingly perfect world came crashing down
upon news that my brother has been diagnosed with cancer
and starts chemotherapy tomorrow morning.
 
All those insignificant things that we stress over and waste
time on, really manifest themselves when such tragic events
like these occur.  It's a wake up call in the form of a lightning
bolt up your spine; a chance to appreciate each thing according
to its true value.
 
I sincerely hope and pray that your friend is safe and well and
that you receive confirmation of this very soon.
A.S.

The second answer to my question came from Ray himself….

Lorraine,
Thanks for the kind e-mail.  We are all well, but society seems to have changed…..
All our best
Ray
Ray Dessy, Emeritus Professor
323 Davidson Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061

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