I don't like being reminded...

I don't...I don't like being reminded.  I forget things...I put things off...and sometimes I just don't want to do it.  That's when I'm given reminders by people or life.  I recently received such a reminder...and it was a tough one to take.

Allow me to start at the beginning...

We all have done it, and we all do it.  We let work, school, and other activities take our time away from our families and friends.  We also have friends, relatives, classmates, etc. that we have reconnected with through any number of social media sites.  We try our best to stay in touch everyone...to call, write or visit...but some how, for some reason, we either forget or just simply fail to do so.  And how often are we reminded this?  And when we are, what is our go-to excuse and our go-to answer?  "I'm just too busy right now" and "I'll do it tomorrow."  Sound familiar?

I am beyond guilty of this.  I have the best intentions...but not the best follow-up actions.  This is where my little reminders come in.  Sometimes, the reminders are subtle, but other times they are more, shall we say, "sucker punches."  Whatever their form, they serve to remind me just how important the people in my life are, just how important it is to let them know what they mean to me, and just how important it is to do things today and not put them off until tomorrow...because tomorrow isn't guaranteed...and you may never have the chance again.

Yesterday, I received a "sucker-punch" reminder.  Yesterday, I lost a long-time friend from grade/middle school.  We grew up together, went to church together, spent our summers together, etc.  Our families were even friends...my Mom knows his Mom well and went to school with his Dad, and our grandparents were also very good friends.  I moved away just before High School, and we lost touch.  A few years ago, we reconnected on FB...something for which I will be forever grateful.  We kept in touch fairly well, but the last few months we didn't talk as much.  I kept looking at his number in my phone, or at his name on my FB page, and thinking that I needed to call, text, message...something.  But I never did.  On my trip back home last month, I even thought about making a detour and swinging by to see him.  But I didn't.  Now, I will never get a chance to make that call, send that message, or make that detour...and oh how I regret that now.

I hate being reminded about things that I put off or forget...especially when those reminders are permanent.  Now, when I get a reminder and can act on it, I will do my best to do so...to call, write, or spend time with those in my life...because something that I hate more than a reminder...is having to live with the regret.

I will miss you, my friend...but I will never forget you.