We are not immortal

October 31, 2010

I didn’t used to be a hypochondriac. In fact, I was always the first to get tests to “rule out.”

That’s because I was young and had no fear. Like all young people, I thought I was invincible.

That was before Death and All His Friends* began to call on people I knew and loved. It was before my mother spent a year in the hospital having medical tests that always showed an “additional problem.” Before she died, young at heart, at 74.

It was before all that. Before my husband got a stent and some of my best friends got cancer.

Before someone I care about was seriously disabled in an accident that wasn’t his fault just months before retirement. It was before I know that something so random could keep an athletic guy in serious pain all of the time. ALL of the time.

It was easy to go for “rule-out tests” before I realized that I am in the category others call “old.” Not elderly, but still, “old.”

Before I knew for sure that we are not immortal.
Since we are not immortal, it’s important to make every day we’re given count. To live every day with integrity and kindness. To find those opportunities to treat others with love and respect. To see and accept people for who they are.

And to help others who need it.

At this age, at any age, really, it’s wise to live every day as though it were our last.

*The really apt name of last season’s Grey’s Anatomy finale. And a Coldplay song.

2 comments on “We are not immortal
  1. Anonymous says:

    Wow this is kind of sad…sorry for all your loses.

    This is why I chose to live life fearlessly. I have come to the conclusion non of us get out alive and that if we do get sick and suffer there has got to be a DIVINE lesson in it somewhere and if not we are entitled to be angry and fucked up on meds about it. It is ok to ask “why me”, it is ok to die you do NOT need permission. If you are afraid of going to hell fix your problems and await heaven it you believe and if you think there is no heaven or hell just make the final ride comfortable. If you think you are going to come back make this trip spectacular.

    We have to meet life on life’s terms. Death is the one area WE are not in charge of most times. As human animals we are built to survive but I prefer quality of life to quantity of life.

    Native people have a saying…”today is a good day to die.” I live by that motto. My house is in order, I have forgiven and been forgiven I live in the moment and each second I am alive I am joy filled and productive. I also have Multiple Sclerosis, painful neuropathy in both legs and have pain every single day of my life.

    I think how we handle everything is a choice…even death. As the Zen say…”if you are in this life pain and adversity will come to you…suffering is a choice.”

    NAMASTE

  2. Thank you for this wise and beautiful comment. I subscribe to your philosophy and Zola’s: “I came to live out loud” I also think that’s why the song I posted yesterday about living life out on a limb speaks to me.

    And PS, didn’t know.

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