What Would Marie Do?

I first met Marie five or six years ago when she took an online course I was teaching to help women establish exercise as a habit.

There was a closed Facebook group for the course, and eight weeks later, we were all more friends than participants. I met some of my favorite people through this group.

The more I learned about and got to know Marie, the more respect and admiration I developed for her.

A badass attorney, adopted her niece and nephew when they were babies, super generous, very active in her community, always giving back.

The definition of a really good human being.

Two months ago Marie unexpectedly died.

She lived in Tennessee and I live in Connecticut, and I never got to meet her in person.

Even though I never met her, Marie was one of the best people I know.

She helped everyone she could in every way she could.

She was intelligent and passionate and super quick witted.

And she was only in her sixties. She was young. Marie’s death was a loss for many, many people.

I think about Marie every day.

Her death has given me perspective.

I think she would do anything to have one more day.

And if she did have one more day, how would she spend it?

Would she scroll it away on social media?

Would she obsess over the way her stomach looks in a bathing suit?

Would she worry about having a perfectly organized house?

Would she focus on all the stuff she was doing wrong?

Would she burn brain calories judging people who don’t return their shopping carts?

I don’t think she would.

(Well, she might judge the non-cart-returning people for a couple seconds.)

But I imagine she would direct her attention, focus, and energy into other things.

I imagine she’d do the things that she loved and spend time with the people she loved, and ignore all the stuff that really doesn’t matter.

She’d be seizing the heck out of every hour she got.

Just about every day since Marie died, I’ve checked myself at least once.

Would Marie be pissed about this?

Would she devote brain space to this?

Would she miss out on this?

What Would Marie Do?

Marie made my life better when she was alive.

And she’s making it even better after her death.

Just like that, she became part of the compass I didn’t know I needed.

And now, maybe she’s a part of your compass, too.

Thank you for showing me the way, Marie.

You’re still making the world a better place.