I have a coworker who’s about to lose her father to cancer. It’s sucks! It’s those moments you want to give some kind of encouragement but you know having gone through this with my own father there are no words you can really say.

He’s 81. She showed me a video she recorded about a week ago. He couldn’t lie down or sit from pain. Yet, he went out and climbed on his tractor to clear the field. I was amazed when she showed that to me. For someone to be suffering and in pain, yet will go and do work. He is part of the greatest generation and it shows. I don’t know if I could do it.

We all need our fathers in our lives but the relationship between father and daughter is different than mine with my father. I can hear it when she talks. So I did the only thing I could do.

I listened.

Whenever she would say I shouldn’t feel this way I would stop her. I told her she has every right to feel what she’s feeling now. To get it out. I told her to talk with her father and anything she wants to tell him to do it. Don’t look back with regret that you didn’t share something with him.

We live our lives and chase after things. In the end you find that none of the crap we chased after really matters. What matters is the relationships we have in life. How we treat others. Those are what matters. Not a fancy house or car. Not how much we have in the bank or how perfect we make our lives look on social media.

This past year with all the hysteria surrounding this coronavirus mess, I’ve seen how important connections with others is. We are not designed to be cut off from one another. Yes, we have ways to communicate but non of the technology can replace the ability to physically touch another person. It helps ground and connect us in a way that can’t be explained.

From the moment we are born, we establish a bond with our parents through touch. Whatever you have to do, fight to not lose that during these crazy times. Your mental health depends on it.

If you are a person who prays, keep my friend in your thoughts and prayers. She needs all she can get to help her through this period in her life.