Three things
In these last few days I have been thinking on these things for my life.
Gratitude is the key
Doing the next right (loving) thing is where it’s at
The end is good
And then this from my friend Karl Travis who was put on hospice care and unexpectedly started feeling better.
He says “these days are stolen.” I feel that about my own life coming through several diseases and illnesses that each had me near death. “These days are stolen” releases such gratefulness, joy and sense of purpose from within. It reminds me that each and everyday is a gift given, and not automatic necessity.
Karl also quotes the poet Rachel Wetzsteon, “meanwhile, meanwhile’s far from nothing.” Whatever “meanwhile” we are living in—waiting for things to open up, waiting to be loved, waiting to show love, waiting to feel better, waiting to die, our “meanwhiles” are actually endowed with love and grace and purpose. As a recovering alcoholic friend of mine used to say at every meal before we ate together, “be present, right here, right now. You don’t want to miss it.”
Here are the last couple of paragraphs from Karl’s most recent post.
As for me, I am attempting to release expectations and simply to enjoy each day as the gift it is. I know that my recent improvement is reprieve, not exoneration. These days are stolen. The outcome will be the same. But only three weeks ago I didn’t expect these days and nonetheless here they are.
Here I am!
L’chaim! To life!
What matters now is what I do with these unexpected days, because “meanwhile, meanwhile’s far from nothing.”
