Very often it is only when we allow ourselves to feel the pain of departure of a friend or a relative does the awareness and honesty appear.
(Society and family life very often encourage us to mask or suppress these feelings and until you are ready this is a useful defence mechanism).
When we are in a state of extreme emotional pain the opportunity is presented to activate our senses. Our emotions are awakening, we are becoming in touch with our real selves, we have the chance of become honest and truly aware of our emotions. We can then see what living is all about, finding the real me, and when we become emotinally aware and honest we can truly love ourselves and others.