Projects of life

I have many projects to do today. Some I hope to complete and check off my mental list. A couple have happened already, I did update my website, my twitter, and now my blog. Others, well they are more like ongoing projects or ones that will at least take several days if not weeks, a couple of quilts, bookmarks for a workshop, a worksheet for another workshop, reorganize the craft room, etc. You get  the idea. But as I was going over this list in my head, the thought came to me about two women I know whose lives have been changed this week, whose to do lists have probably been altered.
Both women are vital forces in their respective communities. Both have families and friends who need and value them. Both have been told they have cancer. Though tests are still being done and we are hopeful, it is probably that this will now be the main focus of the rest of their lives.
I wondered, what immediately came off their perpetual to do lists? Is there something on my list that could easily be discarded in order to do something healthier for me? Is there some emotional or spiritual need that I have been ignoring for too long? If this news had come to me or someone in my immediate family, what would change on my list? Does it need to change anyway? Wasn't I planning on simplifying some things already?

When Don Juan is teaching Carlos Castaneda he puts it like this,“… The thing to do when you are impatient is to turn to your left and ask advice from your death. An immense amount of pettiness is dropped if your death makes a gesture to you, or if you catch a glimpse of it, or if you just have the feeling that your companion is there watching you."

Blessings of light and peace, especially to those two ladies and their families.