Ibrahim Becirovic

On September 5th, we lost a father, a grandfather, a cousin and a best friend to many. Our father fought a courageous battle with cancer for the past several months. Our father was born in Ljubuski, former Yugoslavia on March 8th, 1943 to Alija and Rukija Becirovic. Our dad loved his family and his granddaughter very much. We were his whole world. The topic of our conversations would always……and I do mean always end with Yasmina, weather she ate, what she is doing and how good of a student she is. Yasmina, grandpa was and is very proud of you. Dad was not just a father to us. He was our best friend and a mentor. We shared a thousand laughs and just as many tears. We shared countless private moments and conversations that will stay with me forever. His parental skills were nothing short of extraordinary. His ability to make an impact on others was exceptional. His friendships were honest. He was not jealous nor vindictive. What mattered is we were together when life was good and when it got bad. We shared both of these equally and stood along side of each other. Dad taught us a lot. He taught us all something if we paid close attention. Dad taught us strength, and I can tell you that it is that strength that allows us to continue on. He taught us that there is always something to be grateful for. Even when things go horribly wrong, even when your dreams die and your plans crumble, even when loved ones leave and things you never thought you’d lose are lost, you can always connect to a place of humility, surrender and yes, even awe. Because when forgiveness is your path, and love is your reason for being alive, and awakening is burning in your heart, then gratitude is never truly far away. Dad thought us to love and let go. You mourn, and celebrate transience. You find your true home in insecurity. You fall in love not with the destination, but with the ground upon which you take each step. He was selfless and believed in people when they did not believe in themselves. He pushed us to be better. He welcomed us with open arms and gave the best hugs one could ever give. Among the other words which come to mind to describe his character, his uncompromising integrity and honesty have proven to be among the most important guides for myself in my professional and personal life. His selflessness was larger than life. My brother and I share many memories of our father selflessly giving to others. My father would give handfuls of money to others in need. Some of you out there are witness of my father’s selflessness. Dad thought us to prioritize things in life. To not get caught up in unnecessary distractions. When he passed, all the appointments he had were no longer important. His plans he still had were forever undone. The calendar that ruled so many of his days became irrelevant. All his hurt stopped. Our lesson was to not let life be stolen every day by unnecessary things, by all that we have been led to believe matters, because on the day we die, the fact is that much of those things simply won’t matter. Dad’s sense of dignity was never so tested nor so well demonstrated as in the final weeks and days of his life. Even with a body riddled with cancer he still was not asking for the normal allotment of painkillers as he wished to maintain full control of his faculties and to preserve his lucidity and maximize his ability to interact with the people that mattered to him the most; myself, my brother, his granddaughter, his sister and son in law. I struggle to imagine myself being able to meet death with even 1/10th the dignity that I observed in my dad over the past weeks and which swelled me with pride each minute that I spent with him. In words of my favorite author and spiritual healer Osho, The real question is not weather life exists after death, the real questions is weather you are alive before death. My father was a proud and dignified man who had extraordinary passion for life. His generosity with his time, his energy, his advice, and in so many other ways provided invaluable support to a remarkable number of people. Dad was a good friend to many. He was as enthusiastic about the success of others as he was about his own. He talked health, happiness and prosperity to everyone around him. He made all of his friends feel that there is something in them. He was too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too strong for fear. Dad, You are and will always be our Hero. You are Victorious. What you did in this life echoes in eternity. And in the end everything will remain exactly how it always was. Untouched. Your dedication to us, your love for us will be unchanged. There are days when tears roll all on their own. You were my favorite hello and one of the hardest good byes. It isn’t about accepting that you are gone, I am fully aware that you are not here. It isn’t about moving on, because I move forward but you are no further from my mind, it isn’t about forgetting you because you are still the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing at night. It is about learning to not reach for the phone; learning not to go to your room to check on you. I miss sharing my joys and sorrows with you. Its about not seeing your smile or hearing your voice. I miss the intensity of your love. I miss hearing about all of your hopes and dreams for Yasmina. Because of you I laughed a little harder, cried a little less, and smiled a lot more. I miss the sound of your voice, the wisdom in your advice, the stories of your life, I miss being in your presence, I miss the warmth of your hug, I miss you. You were worth every single moment even when it was too hard to bear. You are my one in a million and my once in a lifetime. A true gem. A Life well lived. What an inspiration you are and have been to all of us. A gentle kind spirit that thought us how to live a life full of love, compassion and forgiveness. One of our last conversations included your worry for how your family will handle all of this. In your last moments, you worried about others. This is the person you were. A selfless soul that looked at needs of others over your own. Thank you so much for all you have done for all of us. You will not be forgotten and your legacy will continue on. Kao kap vode na dlanu Nas Dvojica