“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

I, with the rest of the world, am deeply saddened by the loss of Robin Williams. I had the privilege of spending time with Robin and his then wife Marsha many moons ago. He was as brilliant and comedic in person as one would imagine, and also extremely warm and caring.

They had small children at the time and it was clear he loved them dearly. His eyes lit up every time their names were spoken.

In honor of his family’s request to focus on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions, I wanted to share how Robin Williams positively influenced our lives very recently.

We watched Popeye the movie two weeks ago and my sons have eaten mounds of spinach everyday since. I mean they can’t get enough. They wake up asking for it, and shove it in their tiny mouths faster than they can chew it.

My 5 year old has spontaneously burst into laughter and when I ask him what’s funny, he recounts a scene from the movie. Small things I know, in light of such a giant loss, but life is all about the little things.

Today we are listening to the incredible “What Dreams May Come” soundtrack composed by Michael Kamen and I am finding joy and laughter in all the moments that make up our daily life.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question—
Whether ’tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die, to sleep—
No more; and by a sleep, to say we end
The Heart-ache, and the thousand Natural shocks
That Flesh is heir to? ‘Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep,
To sleep, perchance to Dream; Aye, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come…”
-William Shakespeare