Seize the Day
As if in a haze, I see mint-green shadows passing by and hear laughter and the clinking of cutlery in the background. Fortunately, the sun shines on the terrace of the canteen, a true blessing under these circumstances. It feels like the world has come to a standstill for me while everything around me continues to spin. As I wait, cheerful memories from the past week flash before my eyes. My parents smiling broadly at the sight of the birthday decorations with ‘Happy Birthday’. My father beaming while we enjoy breakfast outside, with the pièce de résistance being the delicious birthday cake bearing the word ‘Parabens’. None of us could have guessed that while blissfully enjoying sunny views of the Algarve coast, this fairy tale would transform into a frightening reality. Seize the Day.
Beware of Worse
As I sing my way to my parents’ apartment, looking forward to another beautiful day, my mother rushes outside, alarmed. “Your father isn’t doing well; he’s breathing too fast.” With one look into the bedroom, seeing my father’s expression and hearing his breath tells me that things are quite serious. When I call 112, the operator informs me that the ambulance only goes to the public hospital. And that could mean an eternity of waiting, while we can’t afford to lose any time. When my father lets out a cry of distress, I see only one solution; transport him as quickly as possible in the Jeep while I call the private hospital to be ready for the emergency. I hope to never experience such a ride again, but thankfully, this swift action saved my father from something worse. Seize the Day!
Every Moment Counts
Thanks to a few skilled ‘angels in disguise’ working at the hospital, my father is recovering. His strong will and age command respect. We often hear ‘Durk’ echoing through the hallways, pronounced in his Portuguese style. While the first five days of my parents’ stay were heavenly, the eight sometimes nerve-wracking days that followed were not hellish. Eus and I have learned a lot in a short time. Another confirmation that we complement each other seamlessly. In the heat of battle, I can arrange things and get things done that usually wouldn’t work out. Meanwhile, Eus hosts us by providing our basic needs; food, humor, and hugs. An intense time with every moment counting. Seize the Day.
In the Flow
So, every day counts. And if you believe that you are only ‘in the flow’ when everything runs smoothly, let me convince you that the opposite is also true. Everything moves and flows when you realize that life, and the happiness associated with it, can be finite. In such moments, my focus naturally shifts to something infinite, and that is love. Do you recognize this? That in times of crisis, you stop worrying about petty little things and return to the essence; love and Seize the Day?
Love
You could say that if you want to undertake something, and succeed internally, you should definitely use the basic ingredient of love. For with this raw material, this inexhaustible source, you can move mountains. Moreover, you receive oceans of love in return, without even asking for it. When you do things with love, it brings you joy. We met a number of specialists and a physiotherapist who, besides showcasing their professionalism, were a welcome beacon of positivity and involvement in the hospital. They were our hope in frightening days, in contrast to several nurses who operate according to the whims of the day. A screen gets more attention than their patients.
Seize the Day
So if you find yourself stuck in a Monday-blue mindset that seemingly repeats itself every day of the week, set yourself a goal. A goal that goes beyond mere need fulfillment or material gain. Seek something that gives you a spark of joy. And do it! Break free from the mold. Even if you have to take risks, it’s worth it. My father’s heart’s desire was to celebrate his 92nd birthday with us here in Portugal. You might think, a man of his age and condition; is that madness or reality? The reality is that he enjoyed it, both before and during his stay. His birthday and the days that followed were a true experience, one that no one can ever take away from him. Seize the Day. The memories remain.
Seize Every Day
So seize every day as if it were your last. For each day is a precious gift where you can sow seeds of love for yourself and others. On a beautiful spring day, you open a rose gate and walk into a courtyard where love blooms, that which is infinite and where infinity rules. Seize the day!
