Life Lesson – Be Thankful for What You Have – Appreciate Every Day

Categories

Featured Products

I know this is not photography related exactly but I had to share an experience I had this past week.  As some of you who read my newsletter may know, I am in the process of having a new website built with a full e-commerce system.  It is going to be amazing.

I also decided to invest in a blog that will be even better – easier to find posts, see features, and more.  I hired a blog designer that I learned about from Twitter.  People talk very highly of him on twitter and he seemed very sharp when I spoke to him.  He knows how to build the complex blog design I desire. Long story short, I put down 1/2 for a deposit.  It is not one of those $300-500 blogs either – it is a lot of money as I want a really incredible structure and functionality.  Two weeks had past – and I was excited to see the design – so I wrote Monday and asked when I would.  He wrote Tuesday morning saying he sent it via email – but I did not get it – so he said he would send it again.

The layout files did not come.  Tuesday passed.  Wednesday passed.  I emailed.  I called.  I twittered.  I emailed again.  I called and left more messages.  Nothing.  Strange…  So then I get worried as there are so many internet scams.  And since I was not personally referred to him I start to fear either something horrible happened to him or that he disappeared with my money.  Neither is a good scenario.

I decided that on Friday I would try one more time to make contact, so I sent an email through the contact form on his site.  No response all day.  Friday night I twitter (not using his name) but inquire to see if people know how to file a dispute with paypal.  Now I feel so bad about this tweet.  But how could I know…

Saturday morning I wake up to this email:

This is Lisa, Russell’s wife. Russell ask me to find your email and contact you. He was in a bad car accident on Tuesday with our youngest. Our youngest only suffered minor injuries, but Russell took the brunt of the impact. He was hit on the drivers side by someone running a red light. The paramedics said if the car was only a foot over he may have been killed or paralyzed. Russell’s left leg was crushed pretty bad, his left arm broken, and his head was beat up. He has his sense of humor still. He said with the metal in his leg he is the bionic man. Their is a good chance that he will be coming home from the hospital tomorrow or Monday. He gave me a list of things that he needs to work from bed, and wanted me to tell you he hasn’t forgotten about you. I’m going to see what I can find about the blog sketch. I’ll be going through his email for now.

Keep us in your prayers.

Lisa

I probably do not need to tell you the “life lesson” in all this.  But… please be thankful for every day – and enjoy each to the fullest.  We never know what is around each corner so we need to appreciate every moment.  Make sure you are doing what you love.  So not bog your life down with stuff that makes you stressed or unhappy.  Do what brings you joy – with your family life, with your work/career, hobbies, etc.  Do what you love! Appreciate what you have.  Make sure to tell those you care about that you love them. 

You read Lisa’s email.  A foot!!!  If the car had been one foot further when the other car hit his, he may have been dead or paralyzed.  That foot…  Do not live in fear because of the foot, but keep it in the back of your mind so you live life to the fullest.

And please say a prayer for Russell for a full recovery, for his wife and for his children.

Thanks,

Jodi

Posted in

MCPActions

No Comments

  1. Life with Kaishon on June 7, 2009 at 9:08 am

    I am praying for him right now! I am so thankful he is still alive. Very scary stuff.

  2. Beth B on June 7, 2009 at 9:09 am

    Sending thoughts and prayers to his family.

  3. Dawn Boyce on June 7, 2009 at 9:19 am

    I am crying as I read this. The same thing happened to my family a year and a half ago. A man ran a red light, and hit my husband in the drivers door, our son was in the back seat. Our son only had minor injuries, my husband suffered a bad blow to the head. Everyone said it was a miracle that my husband pelvis was not crushed, the door frame was crushed around him. My husband missed months of work and still struggles from the brain injury. Reading this reminded me to be so thankful. We never know what a day will bring and how our lives can change. The Lord is so good. Thank you for reminding me to of this families story. I pray he will heal quickly.

  4. Alan Stamm on June 7, 2009 at 9:25 am

    Wise, touching reminder of what really matters. These thoughts are framed as vividly as your images, and also make me pause, look again and reflect.

  5. Claudia on June 7, 2009 at 9:49 am

    Some how I am sencing you feel bad for worrying that you had been “scammed” … DONT. The sad part of all this is that along with being very thankful for our blessings, we normally would never think someone would take advantage of us, as WE certainly would never do that to anyone.You work very hard for your money and it had to be scarey thinking “what if?” … dont beat yourself up. It was a very normal thought– I am sure Russell will be very understanding. 🙂 your relationship will be very different. Thanks for sharing… Lesson leared all round.TTFN~~ Claudia

  6. CM Photography (Christy) on June 7, 2009 at 9:50 am

    About 10 years ago, I had something similar happen to me. Lets just say I am lucky to be alive. I realized afterwards that I needed to make an effort to live life and push away the worry, the fear, the sadness and just live. Its a life lesson I’m glad came my way.I will say prayers that he recovers fully & quickly.Thank you for reminding us of what is important in life.

  7. Katie Caress on June 7, 2009 at 10:09 am

    This is why I love reading photography blogs. You always get extra tidbits that have nothing to do with photography, but are important lessons none the less. Thanks for sharing on Twitter (that’s what makes Twitter so great) and let’s all hope he gets better quickly.

  8. Michelle on June 7, 2009 at 11:22 am

    Prayers for him & his family! 🙂 And a pat on the back to you for recognizing life’s lesson.

  9. Johanna on June 7, 2009 at 11:34 am

    I too cried reading this and now have a large lump in my throat. I will pray for Russell and his family. I am doing what I love (but it’s work), and I am also missing those that I love, my kids that are at gma and gpa’s house because I need to work and I want them to be having fun without me. What to do? I am torn. Thanks for the thought-provoking post. I do appreciate every minute, I just wish I/we had more of them.

  10. Heather on June 7, 2009 at 11:47 am

    Wow! Thank you for that reminder! I cried too as I read this. Life is way too short not to enjoy every moment.

  11. Mary @ Holy Mackerel on June 7, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    Wow. I’ll be sending lots of positive vibes his way.I think it’s pretty much human nature to take things for granted. We all do it. I remind myself every day to treat everyone with the utmost respect, and always give them the benefit of the doubt. Having had a child with cancer, and almost losing him more than once, has led me to this habit. Can’t say I live by it every day, but I sure try.Thank god he’s safe. And thank you for reminding all of us of what is important.

  12. Jennifer Chaney on June 7, 2009 at 2:03 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing this story. Yes, it’s a HUGE reminder… and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

  13. Debbie Brock on June 7, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    Before I became a photographer I took everything for granite. The vivid colors, the sparkle in a little childs eyes, the birds, the fluffy clouds, the blue sky, and Mom and Dad’s smile and expressions of happiness and peace (they are gone now). God made all this for our enjoyment because he loves us. God wants us to enjoy life and every moment and to let our families know how much we love them (just like God does by giving us our every breath and all the wonderful things on our world). This is not the first time Jodi has given us the privilege to pray for someone in need and has help us to remember the precious momments of life. I have and will continue to pray for Russell. Prayer works! Jodi thanks for your blog, I read it every day!!

  14. Kansas A on June 7, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    When I first read your note on fb that he had been in a car accident I thought “oh yeah right”(sarcastic) because I seem to be even more pessimistic at times than I should be 🙂 So please don’t feel bad for thinking the thoughts you did before hearing of the accident. I think we all have those feelings because we would never consider conning a person and there are more scams out there than accidents. It’s a shame that those type of people in society have made us the way we are. I’m glad you got everything sorted out and my prayers and thoughts are with Russell and his family.

  15. Shuva Rahim on June 7, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    Thanks for reminding us all how precious life really is…

  16. MariaV on June 8, 2009 at 5:56 am

    Prayers for Russell. Thank you for the reminder, Jodi.

  17. pam on June 8, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Thanks so much for your reminder that in only a moment our lives and the lives of those we love can be changed. I saw a T-Shirt this weekend that I wish I had purchased “Smile its today”. Pam

  18. Tina on June 8, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    The tagline on my email is: “Enjoy today, you only get it once.” I truly try to live by it!

  19. JM on June 8, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    Wow. Scary. Hope he, and his entire family are doing/getting better. And, I hope your blog is as you expected.Best,

  20. Jill on June 10, 2009 at 11:14 pm

    I’m totally behind on blog reading (traveled for 12 days). My mom was in an accident while I was in HS and was told that if she had moved her neck a MILLIMETER more she would have been a quadriplegic. It is amazing to think what could have been for our family. Now after almost 15 years we don’t even talk about her broken neck but your post reminds me how blessed we are to have each day!Can’t wait to see the new site!!

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Categories

Recent Posts