For all of us, life is full of sadness and loss — that is all the more reason why a life should to be celebrated long before a funeral.

On the day this column publishes in the papers, I will be 850 miles away at my grandmother’s funeral.

While her death last Friday came as no surprise — she was diagnosed with a widespread form of cancer late last fall — it is still unbelievable.

There are certain people in our lives who we assume will always be there. I don’t want to say we take them for granted, but we never consider the possibility we might not get the chance to see them again.

I consider myself unfairly lucky in that I not only got to know all four of my grandparents and learn from them, but I was also able to speak to them in their final days.

I have lost other family members over recent years and not had — or created — the opportunity to tell them how much I valued, loved and appreciated them.

That is true loss.

The good thing is that, regardless of circumstances, the opportunities to celebrate someone’s life or to share with them our heartfelt appreciation are available as long as they are.

Earlier this spring, I attended the funeral of an uncle who had battled cancer for more than a year.

We had spoken on the phone shortly after his last chemotherapy treatment and he was nothing but optimistic as the doctors had given him a good report.

Two months later, he was gone.

After years of butting heads — as your may have sensed in my previous columns, I can be difficult — we made our amends.

I say all of this to urge everyone reading this, as well as my self, to remember to celebrate life more often.

Birthdays, anniversaries, promotions and new opportunities need to be marked with friends and family.

More than anyone, I need to heed my own advice on this matter.

This week my family and I will celebrate the life of a woman who taught us many things.

For us, the mourning will never end — and neither should this celebration.

I urge you to take a moment today and find something to celebrate.

Then do the same thing tomorrow.

It is surely cliché to say we don’t know how many days we have left, but there is no reason we shouldn’t celebrate each and every one.

Jay Sowers is photo editor of Gulf Coast Media. He can be reached at jay@gulfcoastmedia.com.