One life, live it

We all get caught up in our own lives, part of which for me is training with a goal in mind. However a phone call on Friday informed me of a close friend had suffered a massive heart attack on holiday and died.  54 years old with plenty of dreams ahead of him and his family.  It stopped me in my tracks.  I was heart broken at the loss and can't even imagine what this loss will mean to his family. There is a phrase "you're a long time dead" and when I think about it, you are.
So on Saturday I went out for my 20 mile run and reflected on the news.  How lucky am I?  Healthy (as far as I am aware), fit and running through beautiful countryside breathing in fresh air.  My goal might be an ultra marathon in 8 weeks time but that's just an event.  But being able to go out and run, swim, cycle or enjoy time with my family has been brought sharply into focus and I am going to appreciate it more than ever before.  It shouldn't take the sudden, unexpected death of someone close to make me wake up but as I said at the beginning, we all get caught up in our own lives.  You've one life, live it! Enjoy every simple thing.  Take time to smell the roses.  Normal "service" will be resumed next week but for now my thoughts are with a family without a Dad.