This past spring I unexpectedly lost someone precious to me.  I thought we had at least another twenty or so years of margarita drinking, laughing over old memories, and making new memories ahead of us and her death hit me like a freight train.  After spending the past few months trying to find the words to express who Tammy was to me, I’ve finally accepted that I can’t.

So instead, I shifted my thinking away from who she was and decided to focus instead on what she did.  Tammy inspired me and believed in my ability to do things that were hard for me.  Not one time in seventeen years did I come into or leave her presence without having her tell me about my gifts and how she was so excited to see how I would use them.  So, because of Tammy and her beautiful way of telling everyone why they’re great, I’m going to mail one note of thanks/inspiration per day to the lovely people in my life for the next year beginning with the one I’ll never get to send:

Tammy,

Thank you for shining a light on all the best in me and ever so gently reminding me of my obligation to use and be my best in the world.   Your ability to find the good in absolutely everyone (particularly when I was busy looking for their faults) challenged me to do the same and made me a more observant, compassionate, and forgiving human being.  I am so grateful to have been loved by you and I hope you’re watching, because I’m not going to let you down.

Love,
Jesse