There is no turning back time.
The images below of three sisters hit me like a ton of bricks. The old saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words, but truthfully, these photographs leave me at the keyboard wondering what to even type as a first sentence.
So I’ve looked these three images over dozens of times and I’m still working on wrangling the emotions that come flooding in when I glance at them individually and then as a whole. Powerful, powerful stuff.
They make me think about my own life. My own family and friends. My two young daughters―and how I deeply want to support them by giving them the strongest wings possible to live their best lives. Something inside of those images inspires me to take better care of my mind and body so I can live a vital life and share it with them as long as possible. I am inspired to be an exceptional and more loving husband to my amazing wife and partner, Julie. And I cannot help but think back on the death of my dog Stella last year—watching her body ALIVE in one moment, her eyes closed forever in the next—even though she will live forever in my heart. My mind jogs back to the strained relationship with my parents and how I need to repair that, as none of us are getting younger. Then suddenly I’m thinking about the entire world—and if together we can all awaken to the fact of how fleeting this life is.
There’s almost this urgency surrounding what to do with the moment. How to cherish the time we have now—right now—with friends and family and loved ones who are getting on in years. How to move forward without drifting apart. The need to emphasize the importance of spending time in the presence of one another, though the world might screech and scream that there aren’t enough hours in the day for that.
Please take a moment and look at these photos. Really, do it. Trust me, this will affect you in a positive way.
I’d love to start a dialogue in the comments below. Tell me the first person who came to mind when you saw these three images.
What is it about that person? Is there a thing you need to say to them or words you can’t forget? Is there a moment you missed or a bond you need to rekindle with that person? What are these photographs prompting you to do next?
Don’t hold back, I’m all ears. Being on this blog and having the chance to read your thoughts on the same topic is easily one of the best parts of my day, so thanks for giving me a chance to get to know you better.
Eric
Sisters pose for the same photo three separate times, years apart
* NOTE: I found these photos on incredible blog post on BuzzFeed. It was titled “40 Of The Most Powerful Photographs Ever Taken. A moving collection of iconic photographs from the last 100 years that demonstrate the heartbreak of loss, the tremendous power of loyalty, and the triumph of the human spirit.” I encourage you to check out that blog. All of the other images are as powerful as it gets.
Eric Handler is the publisher and co-founder of Positively Positive. He recently spoke at TEDx. Follow Eric on TWITTER.
