The amount of love being sent my way today has been amazing. The total number of people who throughout the day changed their profile pics to the LIPF tile is inspiring. I’ve been randomly contacted by people whom I don’t know and/or have never met, opening up their hearts and honoring my little brother.
I woke to a phone that was ringing like crazy and at 20% power from all the text messages that had poured in earlier in the morning. On reading my e-mails, I found out the IRS granted us our 501C status and that we are now officially a recognized not-for-profit.
All in all, what I expected to be a really shitty day has turned out to be an inspirational day in which I am able to clearly see the influence David has had on people and the genuine outpouring of love and devotion you all have had for me and my brother.
It’s a sad day because today David would have been 32 years old—really, just the beginning of life. We did have so much more to do together. But at the same time, it is a testament to the simple fact that as devastating as things can be, you can move forward. You have to want to… some days are better than others and some are not, but no matter who you are, there is always a shoulder to lean on, a hug to be given or accepted.
Today, we are collectively celebrating David’s short life. I’ll borrow from my cousin here, but 32 years ago a King was born—remind me at some point to write about why “King David” is so funny to me. But 32 years ago, a King was born: He had the ability to inspire you to do all sorts of things, and while he only lived 31 years, think about how different your life would have been without him in it at all.
So I guess tonight I will try to celebrate his living and savor all the good stuff we did together. But most of all, I have the unique honor of being that King’s older brother—a title nobody else had the honor of owning. When I get sad, I will pause and think to myself, “At least I got 31 years, for it truly is better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all.”
