Remembrance

With one breath we arrive

And with our last breath we are gone.

It may be years or moments in-between - but it’s all the same.

We exist on Earth 🌎 for a mere second in the portals of time -

Though it may seem an eternity to us.

Life folds into itself as we progress

Until we realise we are but a breath.

We may struggle and strive-

Unwilling to release,

Yet finally we find our peace

In acceptance of the limits of this life.

By fully living, loving - and letting go.

I’ve been absent from Substack for a few weeks and I want to be authentic about why.

There have been a few deaths in my family and friend circle - and I have been processing the impact of this in my life. I wanted to take time to grieve and also to honour and respect those I love.

2025 has been my ‘annus horriblis’ - as the Queen once said of hers. I’m sure i’m not the only one. This year has been one of profound change and turmoil around the world 🌎. Everything that can be shaken is being shaken - and whilst I see the purpose in it all - it is still a lot to process.

Charles Dickens put it more succinctly in the opening paragraph of -

‘The tale of two cities’ -

Life is paradox, and often throws us a curve ball that places awe and wonder alongside suffering and distress. This has been 2025 in a nutshell for me! It has been the best of times and the worst of times all at once. There have been sad endings and beautiful beginnings ✨️.

All of this has brought life into sharp focus for me. We are here for a relatively short stay - and often we live as if we have all the time in the world. We put off till tomorrow what we could do today. We imagine that ‘one day’ we will get the opportunity to do and say all the things in our hearts 💕 - but that ‘one day’ is actually NOW. Now is really all we have. The past is history - the future is a mystery - there is only the Present - and that is the gift 🎁 of this life.

It’s easy to take for granted all that we have - our friends- our families- our homes - all of our relationships. Yet nothing lasts forever - our tomorrow is not promised. Sometimes it takes a catalogue of events to bring this home to us in real terms.

So today - and every day from now on - I am promising myself I will live more in the moment. I will share my heart with those I love ❤️ I will encourage and support them whenever I am able. I will be true to my word and live in integrity. I will create healthy boundaries that ensure I am safe. I will allow space for others to show me where their personal boundaries lie - and I will endeavour to abide by them.

These all sound like simple, matter of fact statements - but they are in fact, a complex Web of interpersonal relating. I want to leave this world with no regrets - no unfinished business - no ‘if onlys’ or ‘what ifs’. Speaking out in love can seem easy - yet it is anything but! We wear so many protective masks 😷 and it is only the brave who will give account of their inner truth, and who will take a leap of Faith into the unknown.

So…..do you have an unfulfilled wish or desire? Is there something you need to share with someone? Are you living your life by making the most of each moment? If tomorrow is not promised- what would you do today?

I trust this does not seem a depressing post- it is not meant to be! It is intended to galvanise us into action - into living our best life. What would you do and say if this was your last day on Earth 🌎 who would you call 📞? who would you want to spend it with? 🤔 Living every day in this way ensures we can live without regret - keeping short accounts and expressing our love to those we care about.

This song expresses it well - just a short excerpt here below.

What leap of Faith do you need to make today?

This life is precious - live it with Grace, making the most of each moment here on Earth. Be thankful for every day. Live with all your might - Love with all your heart. Have no regrets.

With Deepest Love 💜 Carole

In Memory of my Great Grandson -Arthur David John - whose life on earth was too short. He bravely fought for every minute. He will always be loved.