May 24 04 - 12:26 PM
I have heard a new country western song that started me thinking. I don't know the title but I think it is "I Hope You Live Like You Are Dying". The basic premise is this person is just going through life and is suddenly diagnosed with a terminal disease. A friend asks him what he is going to do. Instead of feeling sorry for himself he talks about how he is going to start living with the time he has left. And so the song goes....
It starting me thinking about something years ago written by Helen Keller (the girl who was deaf dumb and blind). She wrote about what she would do if she had 3 days with her senses. I can't remember much but that the first day she would wake up before dawn to watch the sun rise. And on and on...you get the basic premise.
How would you live your life if you knew it was very short? Would you surround yourself with loved ones? Travel somewhere you had always wanted to go? Stay stoned? Sit and contemplate?
It just moved me and got me to thinking....
May 24th 2004 - 1:04 PM
Re: What would you do? Thanks Dana that is good food for thought. I try to remind myself that though I hope for a long life it isn't really promised to me. I tend to think of that when I have to make an important decision.
No matter what I'm trying to decide I weigh all the other factors then I ask myself What if this is the last year of my life, and I don't know it. Then I make my decision.
I find that after I've added that sobering possibility into the mix I dare to act more boldly in the pursuit of my dreams. It also inspires me to take time out of my busy life and visit loved ones because it's a horrible thing to regret not having another chance to tell someone you love them.
Zera
May 24th 2004 - 1:21 PM
Re: What would you do? This is a good thing to think about. Actually have thought of it more (what it means to actually *live* since my daughter was born.)
I would probably do what I'm doing now--play w/her hold her sing to her etc.! I definitely wouldn't work anymore though! (Screw the bills!)
I like the line from Shawshank Redemption where "Red" = Morgan Freeman thinks about life after parole : "Get busy living or get busy dying."
We're all going to meet the same end. It's what you do in the interim that counts no matter how long you have!
Donna
May 24th 2004 - 1:54 PM
Re: What would you do? i would sit on a beach and dig my toes in the warm sand. i would feel the warm ocean breeze on my face. i would drink a corona (with lime) so cold that it gives you chills.
i would sit on a mountainside and watch the leaves quake on aspen trees as they turn into brillant yellows and golds in the fall. i would suck in the cold mountain air.
i listen to a mockingbird sing.
i would watch the sun come up glowing and listen to the silence of early morning. i would watch a doe sneak out with her two new spotted fawns that can barely walk.
i would laugh along with babies. i would smell a puppy's breath one more time.
i would do these things and more.
i would do them all while holding onto my wife and kids.
May 24th 2004 - 1:59 PM
Re: What would you do? Hey Paul ~ You kinda just did all that and so did I.
Thanks!
Donna
May 24th 2004 - 2:10 PM
Re: What would you do? what paul said :)
michael :)
May 24th 2004 - 2:11 PM
Re: What would you do? fact is life IS short. we are always dying until the day comes. then- weeeeeeee!
michael :)
May 24th 2004 - 6:09 PM
Re: What would you do? wow paul you sure sound like me! excellent choice of inspirations. i would just add a refreshing daily plunge in the clear blue/green salt water sea. then i'd be in heaven!
pony :)
May 24th 2004 - 11:36 PM
Re: What would you do? I see what you all would be doing.. I'll eat popcorn during the show :)
A.J (not really)
May 25th 2004 - 4:42 AM
Re: What would you do? I love Paul's response! I try to do that kind of thing everyday for real. Life is short and that has been made clear to me the older I get. My favorite saying has always been Carpe Diem and I try to remind myself of that cuz we all get caught up in the shit of everyday life. So breath it all in and enjoy the beauty all around!
May 25th 2004 - 7:34 AM
Re: What would you do? i forgot one last thing. i would travel to the great north woods and find eiule. then i would put my arms around him and give him a big wet kiss and say 'see not all humanoids including christians and jews suck'.
May 25th 2004 - 7:43 AM
Re: What would you do? yeah...i hope you didnt split eiule. you cant leave me alone with all these bible-thumpers and new age weirdos!! :)
michael :)
May 25th 2004 - 7:50 AM
Re: What would you do? i resemble that remark!
May 25th 2004 - 11:50 AM
Re: What would you do? i do not know...I have seen all before and after the war and then-again. I like-knowledge that is what also make me stay. I like nature and animals and last night me and my husband went to watch birds in a bird store. They put all birds together in a window. There where probably 100 birds all colors all sorts...First i was thinkink that birds of a same feather where together separated of others while i looked better and all birds of all sorts and many colors where playing and flying together and in harmony.
So life tend to put us together in small space to solve conflicts to see there is no separation.
So I would love to live a life of no separation.
May 25th 2004 - 12:09 PM
Re: What would you do? Just how do you teach a deaf dumb and blind person how to write?
May 25th 2004 - 12:55 PM
Re: What would you do? This is tough Dana a excellent question but tough...
I have a friend who is passing of cancer...he told us all on Saturday..he was given 2 weeks to 2 years..
nothing like a time frame eh?...
He wants to be with his kids...and fix any hard feelings he has left with anyone...make sure he has everything taken care of for the family he is leaving behind...and find some strong pain meds... lol...
I thought about this when my Aunt dropped dead...my fav aunt..(the one my father says I remind him of..his sister)... she just dropped sweeping the bathroom for for her cleaning lady (she always cleaned before the cleaning lady came over).. broom still in her hand...
she lived her life the way she wanted.. no regrets...ya loved her or hated her... ( i loved her dearly!!)..
I think the only thing I would do if I knew I was going home to God very shortly is to not tell my daughter "I will help you tomorrow"... to not tell my son " can we talk about this later?" I would hug my mom and dad...be with my family and tell everyone around me how much I love them..... I have a different view of death though... it's not the end...
BTW ...I loved what Paul said..
Heather
May 25th 2004 - 1:07 PM
Re: What would you do? I could'nt agree with you more Heather on all counts.
I love Paul's "I want to smell a puppy's breath" (LOL)
May 25th 2004 - 1:07 PM
Re: What would you do? it made me wonder if he is gay :P
michael :)
May 25th 2004 - 1:11 PM
Re: What would you do? this from a guy with a hairless dog! :P
michael :)
May 25th 2004 - 1:19 PM
Re: What would you do? if you saw me Michael you would know if i am gay or not. ok so there is a tender side of me big deal. just don't spread that news around.
BTW if you were here in front of me i'd kick your ass.
May 25th 2004 - 1:20 PM
Re: What would you do? Thanks Dana... I liked the puppy breath too...
does that make me gay?? I like both sexes of dogs!!! ok that sounds wrong... sorry!
you know what would eat before I die?
peppered bacon double cheese burger...fresh sautee'd mushrooms... carmelized onions...Heart Attack on a plate... but what a way to go...
I love to hear people have that deep moan when they Love what they are eating.. those kind of people life life to the fullest.. ever notice that?
I know... I was preachin about red meat a while ago but this is if I KNEW I was leaving soon... my bowels wouldn't have time to react... lol...
Heather
May 25th 2004 - 1:37 PM
Re: What would you do? kick my ass or admire it? ive had my ass kicked by better than you! ;)
wheres that damn eiule!
michael :)
May 25th 2004 - 1:46 PM
Re: What would you do? i'm glad eiule is not reading this. i would'nt want him to take advantage of my tender side.