I think I have the Buddhist slant on age -- it is what it is! I don't try to pretend I am younger than I really am; I don't try to duplicate activities I did 30 years ago; I don't pretend or even imagine I will live forever. As I drove to a Conference yesterday in Macon, GA with a colleague -- I was struck with how different our viewpoints were about: planning, thinking about retirement, death, illness, etc.
I have made many mental decisions concerning any diagnosis of "terminal illness" for myself. I would not allow for disease to create fighting over "any life at all" for myself! I would want and only accept a quality of life that I could endure and yet still be open to learning, experiences, and all the joys of living.
I would not live --- just so that I would not die!
Life is precious and it is to be used up, fully, by every participant. If it is not -- than what is it for? If life is precious only when we are about to lose it -- than what was it for? If life is only precious during its final moment -- than how does it differ from simple fear of death? Of course, I will be afraid when I am facing death -- that is human! But I will not allow that fear to force me to grasp at straws -- "any kind of life at all." I will try to die full of life!
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