Last week, we gathered to celebrate the life of Maureen, my brother’s wife and to mourn her passing. It was a simple, yet typical event replicated thousands (if not millions) of times daily across the world. An opportunity for assessment, affirmation, and reflection. Our family and friends were lucky to be able to do so in everyday circumstances rather than in those marked by war, terror, or disaster. That remains a privilege for many but by no means all. A privilege to pause and think even for the briefest of moments when our emotions are at the forefront. Gathering to remember the late Maureen (pictured) offered Colm a moment to reflect on some of the fundamentals of being human. Such an event marks a chance to reflect not just on the life of the person who has passed but also on our own ongoing journeys in life. Our focus was on Maureen and what she brought to our lives and those of others. Simultaneously we inevitably focused on ourselves, on what is important to us in life and what human traits, strengths, and weaknesses we possess and how we use them. In this respect, Maureen offered us a moment to reflect on some of the fundamentals of being human in today’s...
