“She is in a lot of pain,” he said. “On so many different drugs that she can’t eat and just doesn’t feel normal.”
“When was she diagnosed? What happened?” I asked.
“We were at this flea market, and she kept fainting. So, we went into the emergency room, and they saw the tumor. ‘Stage 4 colon cancer. But now it has moved into her liver,” he shared, starting to cry.
Tim and Sue have been clients for a very long time. Good friends, great people. This is not supposed to happen to them.
As we spoke more throughout the evening, there was a sense of acceptance, peace, that “Everything is going to be ok.”
I mean, Tim will not be; how could you? But the fact that they got to see both of their children married, enjoyed such a wonderful life up until now, and have been able to do so much together, I could tell that gave them some sense of relief.
We never get to choose when the end is near. None of us.
But we do get to choose what we do until that day comes.
As I completed another year around the sun on April 1st, the things that are most important to me now are so different than what was important just a few years ago.
Who we spend our time with.
What we do with that time.
What experiences we choose – and what we choose to take away or learn from our experiences.
That we laugh, live, and love fully, appreciating what we have, the moment.
At the end of the day, it is up to us who and what we let into our little circle.
It’s not perfect. Far from it. It never is.
But we can choose how much we enjoy this life and the positive impact we make on others. So do that today – don’t wait.
After all, we may not get another chance, as tomorrow is never guaranteed.
-J.D.