Reasons to live your life to the full.

[Burlea]

A few weeks ago I posted about the number of funerals we've attended since we retired 2 years ago.
This week has been a nightmare, spoke to a friend last Tuesday he was dead on the Friday. We attended someone elses funeral on Monday to come home to hear of a close friend had died young. Tonight we lost a niece after a short illness.
Please live your life to the best way.
Forget about cleaning, gardening etc. Go out for trips make memories. As the saying goes on your death bed no one wants more money but they wished to have enjoyed their life more.
Not one of these 4 people made it to 50.

Great reminder, and I’m sorry for your losses.
I teach and we’ve lost two kids to illness and an accident in the last four years. An acquaintance died at 36, two young kids. DH’s uncle literally dropped dead last year. It’s made me much more ‘meh’ about material stuff.

I m so sorry for your loss. But yes you are so right, money is best spent on travelling, visiting friends and family and doing fun stuff. Saddens me to hear my friends in their forties frantically saving for the latest car or getting a huge mortgage. Life is for living.

Totally agree.
You might as well do what you like, while you're alive and enjoy it - whether it be stuffing dead poodles for their owners or growing tomatoes in your greenhouse or paragliding off cliffs.
You'll be dead a long time.
I remember people who are now dead 30 odd years.
So much has happened since, and they remain passed on.
Enjoy life, death is endless.

I feel like this. My mum died at 59 and im 45, DH is 56 and i feel life is whizzing by.

I enjoy life, have a glass of wine at noon on Sunday if i want one, i run marathons after being told “what, you?!” Yes ME!

Life life, have fun, eat drink and be merry!

Yes, anything else is a waste.

Yup, find joy wherever and whenever you can.

So sorry for your losses OP.

Yes, I agree live each day you just never know what is round the corner, life can change in a heartbeat.

I never dreamed I would be dx with a serious progressive illness, my lovely friend losing her wonderful teenage son and the loses of many elderly family members. All life changing events.

It changes how you see life and makes you realise how precious life is.

I know you are trying to be upbeat but this is just depressing

I'm so sorry for your losses

I had a nasty scrape with illness needing surgery and close follow ups five years ago. Despite being alive, the surgery could have been devastating for my intimate relations but a beautiful job was done and everything is ok. It changed my whole outlook. I was 48 and always stopped to smell the roses anyway. Now i stop, smell them, sit among them with coffee and bugger everything else.

I’m 63 and keep too many things “for good”. I’ve decided to use the Gucci bag my daughter bought me, wear the good jewellery and use the good crockery. It’s a waste to keep things.

ZenNudist's post is a bit "odd"!!! But hey ...........
Yes I totally agree to live in the moment because most folk think when you are going to die it happens gradually, over a period of time - no it doesn't always happen like that! You can "go" in 10 seconds so I agree with what Kate Bush said at her last London concert. Don't watch this concert via filming it, watch it and live in the moment. In other words appreciate those times as they occur - planning "fun times" doesn't always work out but those in the moment great times suddenly crop up and you think yeah I am loving this! I also bought a stupid handbag today on the way to the bus stop (don't ask!) because I just thought - £12 in a BEAUTIFUL colour that I've been vaguely looking for (not desperately so, as black would also have done), So I decided, yep I can get that and just not buy the 3 mags I usually buy to pay for it ! I used to be sensible but three friends died quickly under the age of 53.......

Such a good reminder. Sorry for your losses OP.

As they say .. use the good shower gels that you got as gifts and burn your posh candles. No point saving the good stuff for the future.

I agree of course but when it comes to this...

Saddens me to hear my friends in their forties frantically saving for the latest car or getting a huge mortgage. Life is for living.

It isn't so simple.

Some people get joy out of having the latest car, or a massive house, some get joy out of working - they may complain but actually they get a thrill from the stress, keeping so busy and feeling needed. For proof of this see many retirees who used to have "stressful" jobs but are now bored and listless.

Some get joy out of looking at their bank account seeing the numbers go up. Who knows why people enjoy what they do but it's really individual and you can't judge or say that someone else has "wasted" their time.

A colleague passed away recently. One day she was cheerfully saying goodbye after her shift and that same night she died in her sleep. It’s made me more determined to enjoy the little things and keep difficult days in perspective. Experiences and people before possessions.

I totally sympathise and understand what you mean but I have to admit I dislike cheesy mottos like ‘live your life like it’s your last day on earth’ etc as let’s face it, if we really followed this advice we’d all be living very reckless, chaotic lives.

Last May 2018 I was very active and went to the gym three times a week, had lost 20lb in the previous two years and was feeling great and very happy generally. I suddenly developed lower back pain and within 6 weeks was bedridden with lymphoma cancer in my spine.

When my DH (who is a doctor) carefully was explaining to me what was going on after my first MRI and I suddenly realized he was telling me I had cancer I was outraged! I was just so shocked as our son had just recovered from cancer 6 months before. The first thing that came to mind was “No! I was going to travel a lot more than this!”. Anyway, after spending last summer in bed my treatment was successful. I am still in recovery and have pain that I hope will resolve but prevents me from exercising and getting out at all very much at the moment.

But I encourage my kids to enjoy themselves and travel and not to put off dreams that are easily fulfilled. However, we are a happy family and I put that down to our faith. Just loving and being with people you love to be with each day makes life worth living. Not taking anything for granted but enjoying it all! It’s life’s simple pleasures that bring joy.

@IdaBWells so glad your story turned out to be happy. Best of luck to you and your family.

It must have been a terrifying time. Lovely to hear that you've come out the other side and that your faith helped you.

Agreed. I try and say something meaningful to my loved ones every day eg I love you, you're a brilliant dad, I'm proud of you because..... I don't want to be wishing I'd said them when it's too late.

I needed this

It was the complete unexpected nature of it, I was in the best shape of my life!