Sunday, July 4, 2021
BE BRAVE, BE BETTER, AND BE BENEFICENT
When I returned home after Dawn’s death, I felt overwhelmed by having witnessed the love between Bruce and Dawn and the courage and strength she showed in facing her own death while simultaneously dealing with more pain than I could ever imagine. In the midst of my grieving, I really struggled to accept Dawn’s death and to re-envision a world without her.
About a week after I returned home, I woke up one morning and, seemingly out of nowhere, the words "be brave, be better, and be beneficent" just popped into my head. I really loved the expression and on contemplation realized that it had come from Dawn! It precisely stated how I believed she had lived her life. But the phrase also contained a deeper message, something I had been struggling to comprehend since I had returned home. In her words I found something more personal, something I think Dawn was trying to tell me.
I believe that when people are in a grave amount of pain they cannot hide who they really are, their real personalities, their real selves are laid bare for the world to see, and the person Dawn revealed herself to be was the kindest, most caring, loving, gentle, and beautiful person I think I have ever known. I saw for the first time that she was truly someone worthy of being emulated, and deep inside I knew that in comparison to her, I fell far short of being capable of meeting the example she had set. It was a reality check, a truly humbling experience.
And that was what Dawn was trying to tell me. Specifically, if ever I hoped to be able to emulate her—to become a truly kind, caring, loving person—I needed to practice being brave, better, and beneficent, which I take to mean:
Be Brave – Find the courage to get out of my comfort zone, so I can respond to people in more active and supportive ways.
Be Better – Become more self aware, so I can better acknowledge and learn from my own mistakes.
Be Beneficent – Foster and demonstrate compassion and respect for all people in all circumstances.
I loved Dawn and will miss her with all my heart. I am grateful that her life touched mine in so many beautiful and meaningful ways.
In love and respect for her, I am resolved to be brave, be better, and be beneficent – always.
Suni (Jackson)
