StOM StOM 1709 | Page 19

the one you wanted in your size and you ran out of time so you grabbed another one... and loved it!! Or you were trying to book a holiday but the flights didn’t suit so you ended up going somewhere else on a whim... and had the best time ever!! Well that really is what happened here. I didn’t get what I wanted but I got what I needed. A place to be grateful for. St Oswald’s may not cater to the masses but it does care for the many and I love being a part of that. I’ve recently had the privilege of being with my gran as she died. The process from start to finish took just 10 days. And it was shocking and illuminating. It was the worst experience and the best experience of my life. Heart-breaking and healing all at once. Truly, it was a gift - perhaps those of you who have experienced the death of a loved one or have had children know what I mean. I don’t have any regrets around my gran’s death because all of the important things were taken care of in life, so when it came to the end all I had to do was make sure she was safe and comfortable and remember the last memories that we would ever make together. What baffled me most was what friends and family chose to talk about during those precious last few days - the weather, their work, the hospital parking (which to be fair is a nightmare), all stuff that was inconsequential. So much so that I can’t recall the half of it now. Then they all said as they were leaving "Get better soon - I’ll see you later"... and I thought ‘No, no you won’t’. It’s odd because I thought I’d have my gran fooooooreveeeeeer - which is stupid really, but I never missed a chance to say I love you and squeeze the life out of her as we hugged our goodbyes - which was smart. When it came to the end I could love her as she was and let her go without fear. It is so true, we don’t realise what we have until it’s gone - and that’s too late. If you have something to say or do that’s important then get on and get it done - even if you feel stupid saying or doing it remember that in the end it really is the smartest thing to do! Don’t feel sad about what I have shared here - Celebrate with me that sometimes second choices are the best things that can happen to us and just be mindful that we never know when second chances will become last chances... So, try to take every chance you get to be happy and if you can make others happy too! C x Christina Ellis: Interested? Join us at... St Oswald’s Church, 260 Castlemilk Road, Kings Park G44 5LB Wednesdays @ 9:30 am & 11:30 am then 5:30 pm & 7:30 pm Call on 07733 538 448 for more details Slimming World Consultant StOM Page 19