Patsy Terrell

Lived fully, laughed loudly, gave generously

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January 6, 2010 by Patsy

Friendship

Trish and I had yet another fascinating conversation at lunch today, discussing friendship and how to encourage people to share on a meaningful level. The best description I can come up with is that I want people to share something personal with me, something real, something about them.

I haven’t figured out how to get people to tell me about them – not their children or grandchildren, not their jobs, not their posessions – but them… what they think and feel… what they’ve read recently that struck them… something meaningful. I’m not asking for everyone’s deep, dark secrets, but I need more than chit chat.

When I find people unwilling to share themselves it’s hard for me to build a relationship beyond a surface one. And I’m not really interested in a surface relationship. If I don’t know who you are at your core how can I bond with you?

If I wanted to know about your son I’d invite him to get together. If I wanted to know about your job I’d come visit you at work. I want to know about you. You are enough. I don’t need you to “fluff up” your conversation with other people and their accomplishments. You are enough. Just you.

So far I haven’t figured out how to move beyond this fluff with some folks. I want the real person, not the ancillary people and events in your world. Just you.

Well, time for me to go turn on the electric blanket. It’s frigid here. I have water running in the kitchen and will turn it on in the bathroom sink when I go upstairs. It’s supposed to be 4 degrees at 8 a.m., with a wind chill of 20 below. I’m sure I’ll feel it when I go out to warm up the car. Yikes.

I’m so thankful for a warm house. It’s easy to take those things for granted because we’re used to them. But, I’m thankful..

In the Dark

Words That Soothe

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Epitaphs for Patsy

In a document she left behind for a good friend, Patsy listed five possible epitaphs that could be used at the time of her passing.

  • ‘Lived Fully. Laughed Loudly. Gave generously. Gone.’
  • ‘Lived, Laughed and Loved. Continuing that elsewhere.’
  • ‘Lived fully every day. No regrets now.’
  • ‘The journey continues It has been magical.’
  • ‘A magical journey so far no regrets.’

An Editorial Tribute

An Editorial Tribute

Image courtesy of Richard Crowson

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In memory of Patsy Terrell • Curated by Greg Holmes • Website by Rosemary Miller