davidmacgregor's posterous

I feel terrible for the people of Christchurch and its surrounds.
I feel terrible for the country.
This is an enormous setback - not only in morale, but also for the economic recovery.

Does that sound cynical? I hope not.
I was sitting in an all-day seminar today listening to Tom Peters.
On any other day I would have been happy as a pig in poo.

But this morning I felt somehow that I should be doing something 'useful'.
The sense of helplessness is an obvious human response, as is empathy and concern for those affected directly.

When Megan, my wife and mother of my son, died of cancer (she was just 29) I thought the world would end.

Friends and family consoled me.

Their words were muffled by my grief at the time.
But time passed.
Today I look back with objectivity.

The sadness never leaves.

But grief does.

The Christchurch quake is raw and close to us - even in Auckland.

It is right that we connect as a community; especially one so small as New Zealand.

It is right that we grieve.

But it is wrong that life should grind to a halt.

The best way to honour the dead is to pull your life a little closer.

Embrace it and savour the moments.

There is magic in the mundus.

Enjoy the glint in your children's eyes.
The happy banter in the office and pleasure in a colleagues' success.
KIss your lover and be happy their life is entwined with yours.

And know that it is all just for now.

The horror of Canterbury could happen to us tomorrow.

But the greatest respect we can offer to the dead is to drink in our own moments.

Notice the tiny things - start with your own breath (it means you are alive).

Work out from there.

So, returning to the economy.

My dread fear is that this event will discourage people from coming or make them afraid and want to leave.

I don't want to promulgate a 'blitz' trope.

But we need to go on.

It is life.

And life should be lived.

Even in the face of terrible loss.

Especially in the face of terrible loss.