Tag: tracy loftesness

Categories
Family Living

Choosing Happiness

In a profoundly moving article, financial writer Jonathan Clements shared his thoughts on facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. His words serve as a powerful reminder of life’s fragility and the importance of cherishing our limited time.

As I read his piece this morning, on what would have been our beautiful daughter Tracy’s 53rd birthday, I’m struck by how his message resonates with my own experiences of both joy and loss. Tracy passed away on December 20, 2022. Today, as we remember her birth 53 years ago, we are filled with a bittersweet mix of grief and gratitude. (See also this post on her birthday last year: A Very Special Day)

Tracy brought so much light into our lives – her laughter, her kindness, her unique way of seeing the world. We remember her childhood antics, her significant accomplishments as an adult, and the countless moments of joy she shared with our family and her friends.

Clements’ approach to his situation is both inspiring and thought-provoking. He chooses to focus on what truly matters: spending time with loved ones, pursuing meaningful work, and setting things in order for those he’ll leave behind. As we all should. His attitude encapsulates a profound truth: happiness is indeed a choice, even in the face of heartbreak.

For Clements, this means working on his website, spending quality time with family, and planning for the future. For me today, it means honoring our daughter’s memory by embracing the joy she brought into our lives and carrying forward her spirit of love and kindness.

Today, as we celebrate our daughter’s life and the immeasurable happiness she brought to our family, I’m reminded that choosing happiness is also a way of honoring those we’ve lost. It’s about carrying forward their love, their spirit, and the lessons they taught us.

Godspeed Tracy!

Categories
Living

Goodbye 2023, Hello 2024!

2023 brought profound loss with the passing of our beloved daughter Tracy late last year and our Mom a few months ago. Their absence leaves an big void, yet their spirits endure, reminding us to meet each day with optimism and joy – the very qualities that defined their lives.

As another year draws to a close, we honor the memory of our Dad on this December 31st that would have been his 102nd birthday. Like Tracy and Mom, Dad radiated positivity and cheer throughout his life and was a great role model for us. He lives on in our hearts and in the lessons of resilience and hope he taught us.

Though we deeply miss all three of our loved ones, their examples propel us into 2024 with purpose. We hold their wisdom close and look ahead with the optimism and joy they would surely wish for us.

The new year represents not an ending, but a fresh beginning – a chance to carry forward their legacies of laughter and light. We remain very grateful for the love and memories we shared. We will honor their memories by embracing each moment as a gift. May the coming days be filled with the infectious spirit of those so dearly missed yet ever present within us.

As we enter 2024, I’m reminded of this suggestion by BJ Fogg from his book Tiny Habits: “I invite you to start practicing a new habit first thing each and every morning. It’s simple. And it takes about three seconds. I call it the Maui Habit. After you put your feet on the floor in the morning, immediately say this phrase, ‘It’s going to be a great day!’ As you say these seven words, feel optimistic and positive.”

Categories
Living Tracy Loftesness

Back to a Better Future

Half Moon Bay – 2006

Last year, in my first blog post titled “Life is a Contact Sheet“, I said:

Happy New Year! Let’s work towards better outcomes in 2022 than we had in 2021! Like most I’m looking forward to leaving 2021 behind and excited about what the future could bring! Now onward to my first post of this new year!

While I was excited for what 2022 might bring, I now look back on this past year with much sadness – as the hopes of me and many others just didn’t happen and way too much sadness and gloom came into our world instead.

Late last month, our daughter Tracy passed away – the victim of a very aggressive cancer that was identified only weeks before and which failed to yield to treatment. Tracy was the true adventurer in our family – and her spirit lives on to inspire us towards a better future. We have really appreciated all of the kind words and shared memories from so many who knew Tracy.

New Year’s Eve each year is our Dad’s birthday – bringing back so many memories of our times with him. 2022 was his 101st birthday. He also loved Tracy very much.

Of course there we some bright spots in 2022 too – although it’s difficult at times to remember those and to keep them in perspective. The challenge – and ultimately our reward, of course – is to remember that life is full of these ups and downs.

So here’s hoping for a better future in 2023 – we’ll hug our loved ones tighter, try to do a better job being good friends, and savor those good moments and memories when they come along. Onward!

In November 2010, Tracy and I took a cooking class at Village Pub in Woodside – learning how to cook a Thanksgiving feast. We had such a good time that day – a great memory.