Life and love bring risk, but the cost is always worth the adventure

Steven Covey, an American educator and author, wrote the popular book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." The one thing I remember about his book was the principle that you must “Start with the end in mind.”

As an author and speaker, I absolutely believe that advice, and in addition, I would say, “Get to the point!” So, today’s thought is very uncomplicated, but I find it profound. I hope you’ll sit quietly for a moment or two with the question and the answer.

What is the cost of love? What is the cost of life? The answer is simply: The cost of love is loss, and the cost of life is death.

If you have lost someone you loved dearly, the cost of that loss is the love that you gained from it. Love is not a financial transaction, so your loss can’t be measured in dollars and cents. If you could go back in your life and refuse the relationship with that person or not adopt that precious pet you’ve adored for years, would you be better off? It certainly would be less pain.

I think most of us would say, “It was worth it!” Loss can be devastating, but the price you paid was the love you received from it.

Likewise, the cost of life is death. No one gets out of this world alive. Yes, we hope that we move on to a new dimension and a better place, but in this life, death is at the back door for everyone. But think of this beautiful life we’ve gained from birth to this present day. The cost is worth it!

We are the lucky ones to be born in the world. What were the odds? Your mother was born with about 500,000 eggs in her ovaries at birth. During her reproductive years, she lost approximately 11,000 immature eggs each month. And you were the egg that was fertilized. You are one out of a half million!

For all of us, the cost of this glorious yet limited life is that someday we’ll die. That is the cost of life. Is it worth it? I absolutely believe it is!

No one escapes this dilemma. We all want a long life, and we all crave love in our lives. But there is a cost called death and loss.

When we acknowledge the answer, it will always be, yes, it’s worth it.

Find Connie's book, "Daily Cures: Wisdom for Healthy Aging," at www.justnowoldenough.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Life and love bring risk, but the cost is always worth the adventure