Jans Love is as Free as the Birds in Hanson Park
Embracing the Future Without Fear!
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 47 seconds
During the last leg of my morning walk, I spotted my friends Paul and June sitting on the bench by the river. As I approached them, I exclaimed, “What a wonderful surprise!”
“We love your wife’s bench.” Paul responded.
I received a reminder from my Apple Watch to take a break, which prompted me to chat with June and Paul. During our conversation, I learned that June was reading “The Little Prince” for her Spanish class. As I said goodbye, Paul and June expressed their appreciation for my efforts in enhancing the park.
I declined their compliment and responded with a quote from The Little Prince.
The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched; they are felt with the heart.
I shared with them that love is the most potent force in the universe, even if we cannot see or touch it. After my wife passed away, I felt compelled to share her love with others. I knew it did not belong to me, and I could not bottle it up. I recited a stanza from Merrit Malloy’s Epitaph, struggling to recall it from my fading memory.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.
As I strolled by the Wind Sculpture, I realized Jan’s affection was as unbounded as the birds soaring above Hanson Park. I hold dear the memories of the past but do not fixate on them, and I am unafraid of what the future holds. I embrace the present and relish a life overflowing with love!
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.
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Sharing Jan’s Love Allows Me to Live Fully!
In hindsight, embracing adaptability as a core value has helped me cope with the challenges of being a widow. Instead of clinging to the love I shared with my late spouse, Jan, I freely shared her love with everyone I encountered. If I had kept Jan's love to myself, it would have sealed her spirit into a time capsule, ending her life and legacy. But by sharing her love, Jan's spirit inspires and motivates us to improve the world. Her love is now as free as the birds in Hanson Park. It's incredible how sharing love causes it to return to me, more vibrant than ever.
Jan's unwavering love has been a source of strength and direction for me through life's challenges. Thanks to her support, I can now live with an open heart, embracing the beauty of love in all its forms.
