It's Never Too Late

I dedicate this post to my dear friend Sharon Spence.

Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you lived it fearlessly??? All those goals would not seem so unreachable. You would not find yourself reminiscing of the past wishing you had done things differently; wishing you had not given up so easily... wishing that impenetrable unbeatable fear had not blocked your path towards your dream.

That is how Phoebe Spence lived her 85 years on this earth. Phoebe had a successful career as a criminal defense attorney and was always open to exploring and learning new things. At 60, she discovered her love and passion for the performing arts when she attended an acting class to improve her skills as an attorney. Little did she know that acting would become an integral part of her life.

It is not surprising that most of the guests to her memorial were Phoebe’s fellow actor friends.  And what a better place to celebrate her life than the theatre where so many friendships were forged and unforgettable memories created. The Two Roads Theatre's 60 seats were all taken. All guests were given the opportunity to go onstage to share a song, poem, joke, or story in Phoebe’s honor.

I felt as my heart was touched a little deeper each time a new person stepped up to share about the impact Phoebe had had in their lives. I was not able to hold back my tears. I was immersed in the magical space created by the love, care and appreciation exhibited by everyone attending this memorial. Isn’t this the way we should all be acknowledged and celebrated when we leave this physical world?

I had the honor to know Phoebe. One time when I was visiting her and her daughter Sharon, I remember asking her, “Phoebe, do you have any idea how adorable you are?”  She looked at me with a smile on her face and firmly replied, “YES!”  She knew she was appreciated and loved. She did not have to hide behind false modesty. I always loved that about her.

Phoebe,   

Thank you for living your life fully and for inspiring others to do the same. You have blessed every life you have touched. You will be missed but never forgotten.

We will all depart from this physical world. That is a fact and is inevitable. It could happen today, next week, in a year or in decades.  Whatever length of time we stay on this earth will seem too short when it’s our turn to leave. Let’s not waste our life reliving the past or fearing the uncertainty of the future. It’s never too late to say, “I’m sorry” and make amends. It’s never too late to forgive.  It’s never too late to take risks and go beyond the fear of falling, losing or hurting.  It’s never too late to open our heart and show our true “self” so others can see the beautiful reflection of their own light.