Nobody Died Today

Sometimes, something happens, and life stops. 

For a moment the world is frozen in time, breath catches on the inhale, pupils dilate wide, everything comes into sharp focus.

Then with a whoosh the breath releases on an exhale and everything moves again. Faster and more intense, hyper focus. Adrenaline pours through the body so you can do what must be done.

And finally the crash, the let down, the after shocks. Trembling,  crying,  maybe vomiting.  The fear that you didn't have time to feel floods your body leaving you shaken. It's over. You survived it. 

Nobody died today. 

It's only a few minutes between frozen and after shocks, 15 maybe or 30. But those few minutes are defining.  What did you do? How did you react? Did you choose love? 

Not just you,  but your people are defined as well. When the chips are down and everything is on the table, who did you reach for? Did your people show up for you? Did they surround you with love?

Did someone wrap you in their arms and tell you it was going to be okay?  Was someone there to rub your back and tell you to breathe? Did someone else drop everything and race across town to be with you?  Maybe someone told you it wasn't your fault or cracked a joke to bring a smile to your face.

When all is said and done, you survived it. Nobody died today and maybe, if you're lucky,  you chose love.

Maybe you didn't yell or curse. Maybe you hugged someone instead. Maybe your people chose love too, lifting you up, instead of beating you down. Maybe, if you're lucky, you realized what's really important and you let go of what wasn't. Quickly and easily, on an exhale, releasing all the things that just don't matter and holding tight to what does.

Because in the end, nobody died today. That's what really matters.