Life Interrupted
"Every single one of us will have our life interrupted, whether it's by the rip cord of a diagnosis or some other kind of heartbreak or trauma that brings us to the floor. We need to find ways to live in the in-between place, managing whatever body and mind we currently have.
In the end, I think that's the trick: to stop seeing our health as binary, between sick and healthy, well and unwell, whole and broken; to stop thinking that there's some beautiful, perfect state of wellness to strive for; and to quit living in a state of constant dissatisfaction until we reach it. "
What makes a good life?
As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development,
Robert Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction.
In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.
“What’s remembered lives..”
~ Fern in [Nomadland] 2020
Bronnie Ware, a palliative nurse, wrote a book titled:
" The Top Five Regrets of the Dying".
In it she listed the Top 5 Regrets experience by those drawing their last breath:
· Not having the courage to live their own life,
· instead of living a life expected by others
· Working too hard and not spending enough time with loved ones
· Not having the courage to express their feelings
· Staying in touch with friends
· Letting themselves be Happy
In the video, She shared with viewers about how Time is a Gift, about Top Regrets expressed by those towards the end of their lives.
How do we garner the courage to face our mortality?
In this new Netflix K-series, a trauma cleaner with Asperger's syndrome offers viewers some lessons on life, death, family and friendship.
Every deceased has a story to tell- just by looking at their belongings closely.
What will be our Story?
BJ Miller is a hospice and palliative medicine physician, in this video he shines a light on healthcare’s most ignored facet: preparing for death.
In his own words: " it has been a liberation to realize you can always find a shock of beauty or meaning in what life you have left, like that snowball lasting for a perfect moment, all the while melting away.
If we love such moments ferociously, then maybe we can learn to live well -- not in spite of death, but because of it.
Let death be what takes us, not lack of imagination.
Edward Readicker-Henderson, with his satirical sense of humour, spoke about his take on the term "Bucket List".
After the death of a close friend, artist Candy Chang channalled her grief into a project which turned an abandoned house into a giant chalkboard asking a fill-in-the-blank question:
"Before I die I want to ___."
The answers were surprising, poignant and funny.
(What's your answer?)
(Indian Assoc of Palliative Care) IAPC’s ‘Last Words’ campaign in 2016
Talking about death is taboo in India.
To break the taboo, IAPC worked with India’s best stand-up comedians to fuel the conversation, to help people accept death and even laugh about it.
The terminally ill were guided by the professionals comedians to perform a series of stand-up comedy shows. The audience were their family and friends.
The campaign went viral.
A poignant moment in the movie shows Ellie and Carl's relationship over time from their marriage to Ellie's death.
After Ellie's death, Carl reflected in regret on the adventure they saved up painstakingly for but never took.
He isolated himself and became a grumpy old man, disillusioned with life.
This scene, was heart wrenching and cathartic at the same time.
May we be reminded that life never go as planned,
while nothing can comfort us in light of losing our loved one, we learn to grief in a way that propels us forward.
While Carl's grief started in isolation, his healing began when a cheerful boy scout (Russell) entered his life.
The boy represented brightness & joy- much like Ellie did. The movie showed how Carl acknowledged his pain and found meaning in life again through his relationship with inept Russell.
What I learned from 2,000 obituaries
Insightful and Powerful. Life Lesson to share.
Ordinary people can be extraordinary too, by just doing seemingly extraordinary things. By being helpful. By make a positive difference in someone else's life.