I Am Dying, Are you? How are you Living?

I Am Dying

This is what I was told over and over since the last week of July. Sometimes it was by my medical team, other times by well-meaning friends. I had a scare this summer, and in the end I scared myself more than anyone. But for all the fear, I learned there’s a benefit to getting sick and being forced to slow down and reflect on your life. It allows you time to be grateful for your past and make a plan for your future. I may be dying, but so is everyone else. Whether it’s tomorrow or years from now, the important thing to remember is to keep living.

After all was said and done, I ended up with a big scar I feel every day, along with five small scars. A person’s scars are a sign of the past and the visible aspect of their healing journey. I’ve recently concluded my own healing journey from an infection that’s now gone from my body. I feel good; I’m healthy, happy, and no longer take my wellness for granted. I’m recommitted to my workouts and my supplements. I’m more aware of my unhealthy eating habits, and I’m working on slowly adjusting them.

I’m not afraid of death; I embrace it and maybe even look forward to it. I don’t mean to sound stranger than I normally do, but I truly do believe in eternal life and peace, as well as light and love as we get to spend eternity with Jesus. When I die, if you’re still around, I hope you’ll be part of my celebration of life. We’ll listen to music, including Landslide (my favorite reflection song). We’ll eat peaches, tater tots, donuts, Suzy Q’s, and banana flips, and wash it all down with Squirt, (remember, I’m still working on more balanced eating habits). We’ll share stories of silliness as well as great moments.

I’ve lived better than I ever dreamed I would or could. If I happen to live to 106 as I’m planning to, I hope you’ll share in my journey and create stories with me. Remember to celebrate your life to the fullest; never take a moment for granted, and treat each one as a blessing.

Are you afraid of death? Do you think about it? Do you plan for it?

What do you envision your celebration of life to look like?

Have you and are you living the legacy life you dreamed of?