I was recently at a memorial service for a well-known musician, Joey Riley. Joey was in his early 40s and was struck by cancer. I didn’t know Joey personally, but he had gone to school with my boyfriend and his family while they were growing up in Wylie, TX. The huge church was filled with people as they showed pictures of him with his wife, family, friends, and his beloved dog. Fellow musicians sang songs in tribute to him. People laughed, cried and told stories about the kind of person that he was.
The thing that struck me the most about him, and about the service, was his ability to continue to be a person full of life, right up to his death. Even while in the hospital receiving treatment for cancer, he maintained his humor and brightened other people’s lives. It’s a shame to lose someone that young, but I think the message that he left behind is a powerful one… live a life of quality for as long as you are given.
If you are healthy, take steps to stay that way. Make sure to enjoy your life every day. Find work that inspires you, have good friends, eat healthy and exercise so that you can prevent disease and have the energy to be fully engaged in life. If you have been feeling less than spectacular, find out why. See your doctor, take a look at what you are putting in your body and what surrounds you in your environment. Are you happy in your relationships, your job, could it be something more? And if you have been diagnosed with a disease, do what you can to manage it and try to maintain the joy in your life, in spite of the misfortune, so that you can live the best quality of life that you can.
Liz Jones is a wellness professional in Rockwall, Mesquite, Wylie and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].