When I learned
that Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old woman in Portland, Oregon, ended her own
life, I thought of my friend Janet who also ended her life. Brittany suffered from a terminal brain
cancer and chose to die with “dignity.”
Janet chose to stop take dialysis and let her kidney disease take
her. Brittany apparently died quickly
while Janet lived for a couple of weeks after she made her decision. They both had the opportunity to gather their
families around them to say goodbye.
I do not know how I really feel
about what either of them did or what I would do under similar
circumstances. I do know that I am not
afraid of death. I am a little scared of
the dying process, but the idea of being dead does not concern me because I
know this life is not all there is. I
know there is life after death. I know
that life on the other side will be richer and fuller than this life. I hope to have no regrets when I reach the
other side.
The following information came
to me in an email. I do not know the
author of it, but I agree with most of what is written. My “winter” is fast approaching, and yet I
have feelings of spring and summer. I
have a difficult time grasping that time has flown by so quickly. It seems that my body is aging, but my spirit
remains young.
I understood more fully last
summer at a family reunion that my winter is fast approaching. Every time my siblings and I were in a group
together, there was a photo session. It
seemed that everyone wanted pictures of us together. I remembered doing the same with my parents
and my husband’s parents. Then I
realized that my siblings and I are now the “older generation.” It is good to reach this age without serious
regrets about my life. Sure there are
some things I would have done differently, things I would still like to do, and
places I would like to see, but none of them are important in the grand scheme
of life. I have no regrets about my life.
And Then It is
Winter
“And then it is
winter you know…. Time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of
the passing years. It seems just
yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my
loving and beautiful mate. Yet in a way,
it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and
of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it
is … the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise…. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth
go?
“I remember well seeing older
people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away
from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine
fully what it would be like. But, here
it is …. My friends are retired and getting gray…. They move slower, and I see an older person
now. Some are in better and some worse
shape than me … but, I see the great change…
Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant … but, like
me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we
used to see and never thought we’d be.
“Each day now, I find that just
getting a shower is a real target for the day!
And taking a nap is not a treat anymore … it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will … I just
fall asleep where I sit!
“And so … now I enter into this
new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of
strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!
“But, at least I know, that
though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last … this I
know that when it’s over on this earth… it’s NOT over. A new adventure will begin!
“Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done… things
I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have
done. It’s all in a lifetime.
“So, if you’re not in your
winter yet … let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you
think. So, whatever you would like to
accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!
Don’t put things off too long!
“Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never
be sure whether this is your winter or not!
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life… so,
live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to
remember… and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that
you have done for them in all the years past!
“`Life’ is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to
those who come after. Make it a
fantastic one. Live it well! Enjoy today!
Do something fun! Be happy! Have a great day!
“Remember: `It is health that is real wealth and not
pieces of gold and silver. Live happy in
this year and every year!’
“Lastly, consider the
following: Today is the oldest you’ve
ever been, yet the youngest you’ll ever be – so enjoy this day while it
lasts. Your kids are becoming you…. Going out is good…. Coming home is
better!
“You forget names…. But it’s OK
because other people forgot they even knew you!!! You realize you’re never going to be really
good at anything – especially golf. The
things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care
that you don’t care to do them anymore.
“You sleep better on a lounge
chair with the TV blaring than in bed.
It’s called `pre-sleep.’ You miss
the days when everything worked with just an `ON’ and `OFF’ switch. You tend to use more 4 letter words: `what?’ … `when?’ … `what?’ …???
“Now that you can afford
expensive jewelry, it’s not safe to wear it anywhere. You notice everything they sell in stores is
`sleeveless’?!!! What used to be
freckles are now liver spots. Everybody
whispers. You have 3 sizes of clothes in
your closet – 2 of which you will never wear.
“But Old is good in some
things: Old songs, old movies, and best
of all, Old Friends!! It’s not what you
gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.
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