George Michael passed away on Christmas Day in 2016. That year was not kind to the entertainment world. We lost many of our beloved artists to the pearly gates. Musicians David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and Prince. Actors Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, and Alan Rickman. Authors Richard Adams, Umberto Eco, and Harper Lee.

Saying Goodbye

The loss of George Michael, for me, was instant heartbreak. I remember the first time I danced to Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go while getting ready for school in the fourth grade. There was Faith in junior high, Praying for Time in high school, and Older in college. In 2008, I had the honor to see him perform during his 25 Live Tour. It was one of the best nights of my life.

The voice, the artistry, the charitable heart. For me, George Michael sang the soundtrack of my life.

I never had the opportunity to meet him but that does not mean I did not know him on a personal level. That’s because artists like George flood our lives with memories. We look back on the joy they brought us and find inspiration in their life stories. It can be hard to say goodbye.

Remember Them

After an artist passes away, music sales skyrocket. Movies play on small and large screens. Books fly off the shelves. We honor their memory as if we were blessed with their work for the first time.

I already owned all of George Michael’s albums, had his songs in my favorite playlists, and blared a Freedom ’90 ringtone with every call. Still, I hopped on the “I-want-more” bandwagon too. I started searching online for some of his live performances.

Then I thought to myself, why haven’t I searched for these videos before? Instead of appreciating him while he was alive, I waited until he passed away to see what else he had to offer. Like too many things in life, I took his music for granted. I expected it to be there for me when I needed it.

That led me me think about family members and friends and how proud I am of their accomplishments. I recalled many of the patients I have met, their stories of survival and perseverance. Let me not forget the teachers and religious figures, the police and firemen, the waitresses and cooks, the small business owners, even the random guy who let me drive through the intersection first. They deserve my attention too.

There is so much good around us in a world that thrives on negative headlines. I choose to focus on that goodness.

Celebrate Them

The word obituary literally means a notice of death. The traditional obituary highlights the accomplishments in a person’s life. It is a way to honor a legacy. On the other extreme, we make birth announcements because who doesn’t love to ooh and aah at the sweetness of tiny hands and feet? The joy of new life inspires us with hope.

In these ways, we celebrate the beginning and end of life, but what happens to life in the middle? After all, this is when we really live!

We celebrate holidays and birthdays, but there is more to celebrate in life than a handful of days each year. For that reason, I am taking action. I am inventing my own life announcement, a live-it-uary! People deserve to be appreciated in the now. This is when it matters most. Let us learn to celebrate every moment.