Two very famous, influential people passed away this month: former first lady of the United States, Mrs. Barbara Bush and Grammy-nominated EDM DJ Avicii. She was 92. He was 28. They were both known all over the world. We could pretty safely assume that they both traveled in class to luxurious parties (although the music was probably different ... lol!) They both counted celebrities among their friends. They both stayed in hotels overlooking some of the most stunning places in the world. They both signed autographs and had crowds waving at them, loving them and celebrating them. You could say they both lived very full lives. But what a drastic difference between a 28-year-old creative producer and performer and a 92-year-old elegant, dignified world leader. We can learn a lot from Mrs. Bush and Avicii. Over the course of their lives, they went after what they were passionate about. They worked hard. They served people. They sacrificed. They loved. They were hurt and disappointed, but they did not give up. They woke up the next morning and persevered. And in their death, people shared the grief of knowing that the world would miss these two influential figures. When news broke of her passing, people shared quotes by Mrs. Bush, like:

• “To us,  family means putting your arms around each other and being there.”
• “Cherish your human connections - your relationships with friends and family.” (this one made me laugh!)
• “You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way.”

Similarly, fans were sharing Avicii quotes and lyrics on social media:

• "One day you'll leave this world behind so live a life you will remember."
• “Life’s a game made for everyone, and love is the prize.”
• “I can’t tell where the journey will end, but I know where to start.”
• “I think I am a pretty good judge of character in general and try to surround myself with the best people I can.”

What people remembered most about both Mrs. Barbara Bush and Tim Bergling (Avicii) was what they said about love, life, family and friends. Maybe this is getting too deep and thoughtful about the lives of two influential people who, while we may not have personally met them, changed history and, in some ways, changed us at the same time. But looking at their lives inspired me and I hope it inspires you. No matter how long we live, at the end of the day, if we love people well and are blessed to do something we love, we’ll leave a good mark on the world. Especially for those of us who are Christians, it’s good to think about these things. What kind of mark are we leaving on this world? How can we love Jesus more, love people better and work hard at what we’re passionate about? Let’s make every day count! (In the meantime, I’ll be over here, still working on figuring that out.) 😉 Coppelia NGEN Midday Show host