Late Fragment

And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

Raymond Carver


I came across this beautiful poem just last night – and it had a profound effect as to how I view the world right now.

I do feel myself beloved on earth. I needn’t wait until the end of my life to look back and realize this. I’m aware of it now – and have always been aware of it.

During this crazy economic time – with its accompanying fears, sense of panic and loss – take a moment to remind yourself what is important in life.

If you measure your life in terms of possessions and the accumulation of wealth, then, yes, you may have suffered (or will suffer) a terrible loss. You are vulnerable.

If you measure your life in terms of love given, received and felt (if you can call yourself beloved on earth) then stock market fluctuations and a recession and/or depression cannot touch that precious sense of security. You may still experience a frightening financial loss but you will not endure that loss on your own.

I grew up in a family that knew its share of loss and that had very little money for any sort of luxuries. Perhaps I will return to that sort of life. And that’s okay. I was happy and loved. I always will be.