It is believed that when Air France Flight 447 went down in the Atlantic, it took 228 lives with it. But it has markedly changed many, many more than that. For all those who loved the crew and passengers on that flight, life will be different from this point on.
My guess is that each one of those who died, boarded that plane with confidence of their futures. All had plans for their arrival in Paris, whether it was returning home, looking forward to a vacation or planned business meetings … they expected to have tomorrow.
Would they have done anything different had they known the consequences of boarding that plane? I don’t mean the simplicity of taking a different flight. I mean, if they knew their lives were to be cut short, would they have done anything different? Would they have loved their spouses a little longer. Would they have spent a little more time with the kids? Would they have worked fewer hours?
Who knows?
The fact is, none of us know. What we do know is that tomorrow is promised to no one.
But when tragedies like this happen, it can provide a huge wake-up call for those of us who can still do something about it. Love more, play more, work less.
Is your legacy going to be one of regrets, or will your legacy be that you lived your life as if there was no tomorrow?
Filed under: Family Legacy, Relationships, VIckie Mullins, legacy, tragedy | Tagged: Air France 447, flight, legacy, plane, tragedy, VIckie Mullins
Navy ships are speeding toward a patch of ocean in the Atlantic that is littered with debris from an Air France plane that crashed with 228 people on board, seeking to recover clues to the jet’s mysterious tragedy.
The naval operation, a day after the debris was spotted off Brazil’s coast, included two mini-submarines to recover the plane’s black box flight recorders if they can be found in the depths of the Atlantic.
Both Brazil’s defense minister and a French military official have said there is no doubt the debris came from the mysterious crash.
The first ships to arrive will be Brazilian, joining three cargo ships from France and the Netherlands that were rerouted to the area after debris from Air France flight AF447 was spotted.
Brazil has announced three days of national mourning. Catholic and Muslim services are to be held in Paris, including one in Notre-Dame cathedral to be attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Vickie,
The loss of life from the accident was such a tragic event. But as the Dalai Lama once said, “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.”
I think the lesson is very clear … we never know when our time will run out. While I don’t think we should live in fear of the end, we need to recognize that it can happen unexpectedly. And take the time each and every day to focus on what is important. We need to live our lives so that we leave a legacy that we want to leave.
The question Vickie asks is a good one. “Am I really leading the life I want, or the life I need? Or am I running around without thinking where I’m going?
Often we happily step on the treadmill believing we’re going places, running faster and faster. But we rarely take a moment to think about our core beliefs or core desires.
At times like this tragic event, one would be wise to take the time to truly think about what you want out of life. Dig deep. If you’re thinking about material goods you aren’t digging deep enough.