Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away.

Well. Not always, you know?

Sometimes….. with certain people, the hearts and the thoughts are just always going to be with you, no matter where you go or what you say or how you change and grow (or what that delightfully soulful Eddie Vedder sings in your ear).

My high school best friend. The first boy I ever loved. My sixth grade teacher. John Taylor from Duran Duran. My dad.

All we ever really have is right now; tis true. It is the only moment in which we are actually alive, and I have been practicing and practicing the concept of “be here now” because lord how I have lost my now, at times, to dwelling on the past or fixating on the future.

It feels good to be lost in the memories or dreams on occasion, but all you’re really doing is stealing from the present and ceasing to truly live.

But right here, right now, I also know that those hearts and thoughts are part of who I am. I can love and live in this moment while also recognizing that those people and experiences made me, and the hearts that have smooshed against my own continue to breathe life into me, even as they may beat slower and slower and slower.

This year has brought so much loss to so many of us. The threat of more loss is heavy right now for many, even still.

But I just really hope you can remember to live in this moment while also celebrating the hearts and thoughts. They don’t have to fade in order for you to live…. You just can’t let them stop you from being right here, right now.

It’s all we’ve really got.