Happy Monday! Lingering snow still glistens on parts of our yard. For this Ohio girl, it’s been a wintry wonderland of nostalgia. I made my snow angel in honor of my mom, and an extra one for Dad, and since I’m living in the South I thought I’d try my hand at a Southern treat–snow cream! I can see why everyone down here gets excited for snow so they can grab their bowls, head outside, and scoop up the fluffy stuff. I know many are still dealing with bitter cold temperatures and I pray you’re safe and warm.
I was going to write a post on all things writerly and give sort of an update on how things are going. I’ve been busy and will get busier in the coming weeks. But Friday I was sent two obituaries about an hour apart. That changed the trajectory of the post.
The first obituary was from my sister for her brother-in-law. She and her hubby have been together since they were in junior high, so we’d known Van for years. The second one was for a classmate, Peggy; the passing of a second classmate already since the first of the year.
A few years ago, there was a popular meme or bit of wisdom about the dash between one’s birthdate and death date, the premise being the dash was more important than the dates. That how one lived their life was more significant than when that life began and ended.
In some ways Van and Peggy’s dashes were similar: they both graduated from our local high school, had long-time marriages, had two children, and their families were their greatest joys. After that … not so much! The following are very condensed, paraphrased versions of their official obituaries.
Van led a life of adventure from heights to depths. He scaled Mts. Kilimanjaro, Ranier, Denali, and the highest peaks in 43 other states, as well as Aconcagua in Argentina and peaks in Ecuador, Mexico, and other countries and continents. He and his wife were also scuba divers and explored the Blue Hole in Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Van was a surgeon who excelled in his profession as well.
Peggy loved the simple pleasures of camping and tending her gardens. She was an accomplished quilter, attending annual quilt retreats. She was an avid Buckeye fan, but also cheered on her children and grandchildren in their sports. Her heart was as generous as it was gentle, bringing that kindness to her job as a bank teller for many years, then in retirement as a high school cafeteria worker.
And then their dashes merged again. In both cases it was said, they’d lived their life to the fullest. Yet they lived their lives quite differently. And aren’t those the most important things–we live our lives fully and in ways that are right for us? I imagine if Van or Peggy could read the other’s obituary, neither would regret they’d not lived their life more like the other. Just as important, neither would judge the other for not living a life more like their own. What a blessing.
Earlier last week a friend shared an article from the BWNS (Baha’i World News Service), from January 19, 2026. Reading the extreme difference between Van and Peg’s life stories had me reaching for the article.
“When the absence of war can sometimes be mistaken for the presence of peace, a gathering of government officials, academics, and civil society leaders in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies considered a question that has grown more pressing over four decades: What does it truly take to build lasting peace?”
“The gathering, convened by [Brazil’s] Commission on Human Rights, Minorities, and Racial Equality took place [on October 14, 2025] to commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Promise of World Peace, a statement addressed to the peoples of the world by the Universal House of Justice. The document, released in 1985 … offered a vision of peace grounded in the fundamental recognition of humanity’s oneness.”
“…its central argument remains timely: peace cannot rest solely on political agreements or treaties; it demands a deep change in the relationships that shape society.”
“Deputy Couto emphasized … The Promise of World Peace offers grounds for hope. It is vital to remember that human nature is not condemned to violence. On the contrary, the message offers a sublime vision, suggesting that every person carries within themselves an inherent nobility and the capacity for solidarity.”
“To nurture the spirit of care for others, we must dismantle the culture of violence that normalizes prejudice, exclusion, and inequality, and build in its place a culture of peace.”
Wouldn’t it be something if peace truly was that simple. That all we had to do was allow each other to live our lives fully in the way that’s best for each individual–like Van and Peg–and to support those in the margins who are struggling to do that.
As many of us continue following the monks’ Walk for Peace, may their daily suggestion, ‘Today is my peaceful day.’ resonate more deeply. May our obits one day say we lived our life to the fullest.
Next week I’ll give a brief accountability check on all things writerly. In the few hours I’ve been working on this post, I’ve added something else! I hope you have a wonderful week. Stay warm! I’ll see you next Monday.
National Hearing Examines Efforts to Address Societal Violence
A Writer's Window 