I received such a touching letter this morning from a reader of my blog who has become a close friend in the past few months, and who recently was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
“My life expectancy is about five years,” my friend wrote, “which I intend to live fully and make it longer!”
We do not have any say over the sometimes unpredictable events that occur in all our lives. But we do have a say over how we will respond to those events.
We have a say whether our adversities will drag us down or whether they will be an impetus that helps us change and grow and experience more fully the wonder of life and the enormous potential of our true nature.
The letter which I received from my Internet friend this morning makes it very clear where her choice lies. She will continue to soar. She was soaring before her diagnosis and she is still soaring now. Though there will be bad days, of course, she will continue to love life and contribute her brave, resolute and joyful spirit into life even though her symptoms are difficult and painful.
My friend, who is a teacher, writes further, “I was advised to go on disability, but I know I don’t need that. It would make me sick.
“I love what I do. I am ALIVE when I work with children, engage with nature and humanity, and see each moment that life offers to us as a precious gift.”
We live in a time of great upheaval. Enormous changes are at work. Yet no matter what circumstances may arise in our lives we can always choose to simply do our best every day no matter what is going on.
We can always choose to be true to ourselves and, as my friend suggests, see each moment of life as the gift it truly is.
I send greetings and love to you and would love to share your thoughts on the above. If you haven’t already done so, please do check out my new book, The Secret Promise of Aging, at Amazon.
Doing our best every day no matter what is a post from: The Happy Seeker - Aging with Wisdom and Joy