This was originally written after the loss of a dear loved one who passed away in the fall of 2011. It was titled, "Enjoy the Sunshine When You See It" and was posted on my previous blog. I couldn't not have it as part of this new collection.

I am re-posting it in loving and dedicated memory of Kenny D. He was a man who touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands. Those who did were certainly all better for having known him.

I know his light will shine on and with us always.

I often walk on the land where I live. I normally take the same route up to this bluff. I endure a good amount of huffing, and a good amount of puffing to feel energized and alive.At the top of this bluff I can see the ocean, and the landscape behind it, and connect to the earth, water and sky.When I'm up there I feel a sense of belonging and of being safe in the universe around me. I affectionately refer to it as gratitude rock.

One particular morning I found myself taking a new route to the top. Approaching it from a slightly different angle, I came to a place where I was looking directly into the rising sun. My normal route would have kept my back to this sight, and I would have missed it entirely.

It was glorious.

It felt warm.

It was glowing and streaming its way through the forest to land on my lucky body as if I had been hand picked to star on nature’s stage and it was my special spot light.

And then I did something that changed the direction of my whole morning.

I looked directly at the sun and thought, “Good morning, you’re beautiful! Absolutely stunning. But listen, I’m almost at the top of the bluff so I can’t stay to chat. I’ll see you there, however.”

And I turned my back on this moment and kept huffing and puffing until I reached top of the bluff. I stepped up to gratitude rock to find no glorious, stunning, lucky beams of light. The morning was still too early to connect with the sun at the place where I normally connect with it.

I turned my back on a precious and rare moment because I thought there would be more to enjoy just a few minutes up the path.

Having just the day before lost a dear family member, I instantly started understanding again that life really IS too short to wait to the top of the bluff to enjoy the sunshine.

Life is too short to not BE with those you love.

Life is too short to not EXPRESS your love.

It is too short to not DO what you love.

Life is far to quick to wait for something better to come along.

It is merely a flash, a gift that is your choice to receive.

You have no idea what you are going to find at the top of the bluff.

You never know if you're going to have more of THIS moment.

Enjoy the sunshine when you see it.

Don't wait. You have no idea when you're going to get another chance.

THIS Moment really is all you have.

Don't let it slip by. Don't take it for granted. Cherish every aspect of it. Even if it hurts.

That day on gratitude rock, I wept. I wept for lost loves and lives. I wept for missed moments and foregone opportunities.

Dr. Tonia

ACTION TIME 1: I'd call a loved one right now and tell them how you feel. In fact tell someone you don't love something you appreciate about them. It may open a channel for a whole new stream of lucky, stunning beams of light.

ACTION TIME 2: Let me know your insights below. Share what you do hone into the present moment. I'm going to be writing more about this in future blog posts and editions.