Gone too soon

It's strange how the death of some affects us more than others. Case in point: Marco Simoncelli

Over the weekend, this talented, exuberant and YOUNG MotoGP rider, lost his life in a terrible accident at the Malaysian Grand Prix. I was very upset, to say the least. I have even experienced nightmares for a few nights: Why?? I did not know him personally, all I knew was what I saw on TV: how he raced, how he noticably enjoyed every moment on track. How could this upset me?

I think this has happened to many of us.

For me, it just seems so unfair, he had so much talent and was really starting to make successful progress in MotoGP, just the week before he finished in 2nd place at the Australian GP. It's so unfair he did not get to see this through, who knows what he could have accomplished. It's so unfair that someone who got the opportunity to participate in something he loved with unrivalled passion, could not continue to be a shining example for the rest of us: Do what you love! It's so unfair that he did not get to grow old and enjoy the results of his hard work and successes. It's so unfair that he did not get the opportunity to have his own family, maybe teach his sons to ride (Not that I even know if he wanted one).

I guess an untimely death also plays heavily on one's own fears: Am I living my life to the fullest?

I constantly worry about whether I'm living life with passion, am I having fun, do I do the things I love? Am I going to be lucky enough to meet a great love, have children, have grandchildren?

I guess it's just time to stop worrying and start living.......Marco did. For what little time he had, it seems to me it was all good.

A little bit of Humanity

What is going on in the world? Where is our human spirit or concern, for not only ourselves, but others. We just don't give a damn anymore......

I read with horror the story of a poor little innocent angel, who wondered off from her mother's care onto a busy street in China, only to be knocked over. Not once, but TWICE, while people failed to stop to offer assistance, even just riding around her oblivious to her plight and pain.

How have we become so insensitive, so callous? Surely we need to acknowledge that behaviour does not only affect me and you, but everyone.

I know there are many who have taken advantage of the human spirit with criminal intent, pretending to be in trouble, only to rob and beat those that stop to help. But a 2-year old child.........there is no excuse.

What a sad state the world is in, placing more value on materialistic things than on values such as love, compassion, courage, empathy....

"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful."

                                     Marie Curie

I don't know about you, but I've had ENOUGH!!! So, what can be done about all this apart from ensuring that I practice what I preach and set a good example? How do we get buy in from our communities as a whole? How do we remind each other that money is not all that matters? That the Hilton's, Kardashian's and E! Reality TV stars of the world, are in actual fact, not a true reflection of what it means to have value or be valuable.

How? What will be the straw that breaks the camel's back?