A Comment on Life and Death

Do you ever wonder how you will die? I do.

A fellow once told me he had worked out a deal with God and he was going to die in his sleep. He did die in his sleep at age 62.

At a meal my stepfather told me he did one of those online surveys where they could predict life expectancy and it said he had six months to live. He died in six months. He was in his 80’s but still healthy at the time of the survey.

A friend of mine dropped dead in his garage while I was on the island back in February. He was in his early forties and had beaten leukemia twice only to die by an aneurism.

Just the other day and not far from here a man busted into a nursing home and shot 8 people. One of them was a woman aged 98. Imagine making it to 98 and end up dying of a gun shot.

Medical authorities have for years told us that stopping bad habits like smoking will ad years to your life and reduce the burden to the health care system. But didn’t explain that it will add years to your life at the end when you are old and hanging on. And the reality is that these old farts hanging on to life cost the health system much more that the smokers who died prematurely.

I waste a lot of my life but I enjoy my life so waste by definition must bring me some joy I suppose.

I find I am less tolerant of negative thoughts and negative people, arguments, crime, and hate.

I don’t know the answers for sure but I do know one thing for sure…there is a very thin veil between life and death.

Enjoy your day, your family, your friends and your life today.

8 comments:

Judy said...

Very good post.

Anonymous said...

So sad about that nursing home...

Chris said...

I remember that article about the nursing home.

One woman was on the phone with her 14 year old granddaughter, waiting to get shot. Luckily, she wasn't.

I was wondering if that was close to you.

This post reminds me of a question I was once asked - If you could find out the exact day and time that you will die, would you want to know?
I said yes.

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

Chris that crime was about 60 miles east of here.

I would have to say yes to that question too. I would want to know the exact time.

Think how it would change you priorities.

Ali said...

Oh fine! I'll go enjoy my day, my life, my friends, and my family today - but I won't like it ;)

none said...

People can will themselves to death by being superstious about surveys and medical articles.

My Aunt almost died of an asthma attack when she got the hospital bill for a broken wrist.

terri said...

I don't think about how I will die, only how I don't want to die. I don't want to drown or suffocate. And I would want to know if I could find out exactly when.

mr zig said...

After Rachel was born I started thinking more and more about my own mortality. I think about it a lot. I guess its that time in my life were I have to deal with the fact that one day I too will be put in the ground. It's an odd feeling, but I think it's unfortunate that most people never think of it, and then think they will live forever, and never actually enjoy life... Great Post!