Live With the End in Mind

 

Life is full of unanswered questions. Would we live our lives more fully if we knew when we were going to die? I don't really want to know my end date. 📅 I prefer to think I'm going to live a long, happy life with my husband, children and grandchildren. I intend to enjoy each day and follow my daily routines. 👍 I enjoy starting each morning with freshly brewed coffee ☕️, a walk🚶‍♀️, and hopefully a quick trip to the gym.🏋️‍♀️ I also enjoy substitute teaching, 📚 reading a books, 📖 going out to eat, 😋 and looking for treasures at Target. 🛍 

The author Barbara Becker explores living our lives more fully in her recent book, "Heartwood." The title refers to the center of trees 'heartwood ' that stays firm when the wind blows. Like 👍 the trees, we need to stand firm, but live with the 'end in mind.' What better way to start the new year than to focus on finding daily joy in our lives? 😃 Author Becker writes about her close friend that was dying.  She suggests that they do something fun and meaningful daily for 365 days. Her friend 🧡 eagerly agrees and she survives the entire year plus five extra days. Together they make each day worth living. They walked on the beach ⛱️ and even took a trip to Europe. ✈️ 

Becker still carries a photo of her father's first wife who had a sudden, tragic death. After marrying in England, they moved to the U.S. where her father was a doctor. On a sunny afternoon, they went out with colleagues for a motor boat ride.🚢 Suddenly the driver turned the boat and  his pregant wife fell out and drowned. Her father eventually remarried and had children. When she was older, they flew to England and met the first wife's parents. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The author still remembers hugging them with tears in her eyes. ❤️ 

Native Americans have traditional four day funerals that end with a large feast. They both remember and celebrate the life of the deceased. They believe the spirit 👻 is sent into the 'land of the dead.' I have attended funerals in both churches and  cemeteries with tears 😢 and flowers.💐 We find solace in sharing memories with each other that keep them alive. Our home has a wall of framed family photos 📸 of those no longer with us. ❤️ Some people may find it sad 😔 , but I find comfort looking at the photos. Our relatives continue to live on through our memories. 💕 As Becker says, "Grieving is a beautiful expression of love." ❤️ 

As parents, we are role models to share with others. ❤️ The author reminds us to find ways to seek comfort and purpose in our daily lives. ✨️ What can we do to help the homeless in our communities? My neighbor buys McDonald's food coupons and hands them out to people when they ask for money. 💰 

We need to live with the 'end in mind'. The author Becker writes what she would do if she had only one year left of life. 📅  I'm sure everyone handles it differently. Why not start to do some of those things now instead of waiting? 🤔 Whatever our plans may be, we can be a source of strength for others. 😻 We must be strong like the heartwood and stay firm when the wind blows. 🌳 

Show quoted text