Live Your Best Life

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller

We hear the tired cliche, “Life is what you make it.” While there are certain aspects of our lives we have no control over, and we cannot always control how we feel or react to something, our lives are made up of our experiences. Situations can take us by surprise and our reactions can be instant and impulsive. Our reactions can be different than we would like. It can take time for us to adjust or change our mindset.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller

We all know people who seem to only have bad things happen to them. Life never seems to go their way. The unfortunate trials which assault them are not what stays in our memories, but their attitude about the circumstances. It is an exercise in humility observing someone bravely battling against the struggles life throws at them. It can seem a person’s life is one monumental struggle. What sets them apart is their steadfast resolve to beat their formidable adversary. They are determined to win no matter the cost.

Average people don’t appreciate the small, daily pleasure. They rush right past them and never see the value of those little moments. Those battling with chronic health issues feel as if their entire existence has been consumed by their disease. They spend all of their time tending to their condition in one way or another. Patients can savor the simple pleasure when they provide a brief respite from their usual grind.

“Make space in your life for the things that matter, for family and friends, love and generosity, fun and joy. Without this, you will burn out in mid-career and wonder where your life went.” Jonathan Sacks

More people should take a lesson from cancer patients and learn to appreciate the small things in life, savor every experience and make the time to make memories with the ones they love. We only have one life and it is up to us to decide how to live it. Once time is gone, you can never get it back.

“It's all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family.” Philip Green

The person who most models this perspective is a sweet, gentle neighor who has had a life full of heartache and suffer. She was a survivor of brutal domestic abuse by an alcohollic husband. A second marriage was to someone who only wanted to take advantage of her. Despite these experiences, she remained kind and loving. Her life would not be clouded by abuse from humans but her own body would turn against her and she would have to fight multiple types of cancer. Through all of thishumans, she remained positive and earnestly believed she would beat it against all odds. I have never seen anyone who wanted so much to live. All she wanted was to be able to make lunch for her son. Her love for him was her reason to live.

It was heartbreaking to watch her fight so fiercely against an opponent she could not overcome. She was a very precious person, so full of kindness, humble and innocent. One could not help but love her. There are so few people in the world like her. Losing her has been one of the greatest losses of my life.

Keep your perspective. No matter how bad you think your life is, there is sure to be someone out there who has it worse than you. Whatever you complain about doing, someone in the world is out there, wishing to be able to do what you don’t want to do.

Life will never be exactly what you want it to be, Those who suffer chronic illness have been given the unique perspective on life. When you know you have less time, you treasure every minute of what you have. We would all do well to learn from them and how much better our lives would be to see the world as they do.