When reality hits, it hits hard.

My day isn’t going to be great. In fact, it’s going to be hard in so many ways. I am flying to Sydney to pay my respects to a man, who is a well-respected business man and most importantly, a family-man.

He is the father of one of my closest friends and has been a client of my marketing firm.

I know that a funeral is about celebrating someone’s life, but the reality is that it is incredibly sad to say goodbye and to lose someone from your life that is your role model, friend and part of you. I feel for my friend to be in this position and for his entire family.

Passing of friends and family hasn’t come in three’s. We are up to six this year already and I don’t know if it is because I am now older or because its just life.

As I arrived at the airport, I saw another friend standing near the departure gate. I had a moment before I walked towards him to say hello. I swallowed hard and felt as though something had just gone down the back of my throat right through to the pit of my belly. I knew we were both here for the same reason.

After greetings were done, my cell phone rung. It was my friend that I was meeting at the airport to fly to Sydney to pay our respects and support our good friend.

We organized to meet in the lounge and upon seeing him, I once again had that feeling but this time, I could feel my eyes well.

We were all here for the same reason.

Some things are more important than going to a meeting, getting your hair done or doing business. This was one of them. We are all busy, but when something big happens in one of our lives, we all drop every thing, take a reality check and put every thing that needs to be, in perspective.

Life can short. It can be long. It will be hard. And there will be times when you feel like you can’t take it anymore. We are not judged when we pass on how much money we make or any business accolade, but instead, on the moments we share and what we feel in our hearts for those around us.

#RIPRICKMILLING You were a man that held the respect of those around you and you will be sadly missed.