In Celebration of Life

For most of us, it’s hard to step out of our daily lives and routines to pause and reflect on what and who are really important to us in life.  

About 2 weeks ago, after finishing a busy day at the office and while I was eating dinner and listening to a webinar,  my world suddenly came to a standstill.  I had received the terrible news.  My friend Blake had an accident and was no longer with us.  I was in shock.  I could not believe the messages I was receiving from my friends.  It could not be true.  I had to hear from 3 different people before it started to sink in.  

We belong to a community at our gym and we call ourselves the 6am crew.  Every morning, these wonderful and often crazy people get together to work out and push each other further than we think we can go...and now, one of us is gone.  

Blake was always positive, smiling and committed to getting better each day.  I remember one day when I was running warm-up laps behind him, I dared him to leap over boxes in the middle of the gym. His timing was off and he crashed right into them.  On his very next lap, he did the jump again and was successful….all the while laughing and smiling.  

Blake was very dedicated, often coming 5 days a week.  That fateful morning, I had a fleeting thought as to where Blake and Margaux were.  I figured that they had gone hiking together over the weekend and were too sore to come in.  I even made a mental note to poke fun at Blake when I saw him next.  I didn’t know at the time that it wasn’t because he didn’t want to be there, it was because he couldn’t.  

The world recently lost a great person.  He celebrated life, did the things that he was passionate about and inspired many people along the way.  By reading this blog, may he further live on by gifting you the gift of remembering to laugh often, smile lots and to tell people that you love how much you care for them each day.

Thank you “B” for teaching us so much.  We miss you!  We will look after Margaux and will continue to make her lift more weights...Henry too.  

To the 6am crew and coaches: I am so grateful to have you in my life!  Except Maria...I’m only sometimes grateful for you...it’s workout dependent.  Christine: you are amazing!  See you tomorrow.