I ask again, if you risked the same early death (measured in months? maybe?) that I do, what would you do?

Question

The first time around, when I said I had +/- 12 months, some people actually thought I was kidding (which I guess is normal for this type of web forum...look at the butt-wipe who claimed he duct-taped his kids' mouths shut). I honestly still don't know. I really wonder, however, if one were to sit and seriously think about it, how they would approach their life...knowing they might die at any time. It's not something that should be answered quickly (except where I'll get the ol' standard "Get right with God," "Accept Jesus as your Savior," etc., type of answers). Somewhere out there, someone has to have a philisophical outlook regarding early death that may actually be interesting. I may not find it here...but ya never know.

Answer 1

If I had full use of my body I'd try to do everything I wanted to do in life.

I'd want to go skiing one last time.
I'd want to travel to places I haven't seen.

There are so many "one last times."

I wouldn't waste a minute of what precious little time I had on here.

In truth, even though my life should be a lot longer, it is still pretty short. I guess I am really taking it for granted that there will always be more time.


I hope you can find a way to live the rest of your life to its fullest.

Answer 2

I have a disability which involves my left leg. Part of the problem is that I have blood clots in it that originally formed over a years time before they were discovered. They built up so much that they couldn't be easily gotten rid of, so I've had to live with them, taking medication that might slowly dissolve them. Every so often part of one will break off and work its way to my heart/lung area. This has happened about five times over the past 13 years, three of which were serious enough to warrant my being admitted to the hospital. Each time the doctors have told me that I was lucky to be alive, although the pain I went through didn't much make it feel that way.

Anyway, I've had to live with the possibility that I could very well die from this at any time for the past 13 years, and will for however long I do end up living. I have some thousands of dollars that I suppose I could spend on the chance that I won't be able to spend it some other day, but what happens if I do spend it and there is another day?

What it comes down to for me is that I'm not going to treat each day as if it might be my last, because it also might not be. I just live each day as best as possible. I did make some extravagant gestures in the past, but it was kind of silly to do so. I simply stay true to myself now and am happy for it.

Answer 3

Wow, that's a hell of a question.

I'm not sure I can help too much. I watched my Mom fight a cancer we knew was futile for 10 months to no avail.

In retrospect I wish they had just gone to Paris. My parents had the money and she had always wanted to go. Why the hell not when the numbers say you are toast in less than 12 months?

Me? I have always wanted to shoot one really good photograph. I think I would probably clean out the savings for a new camera, go to Yellowstone however I could get there, camp out if I could, and work on getting that photo. It would kind of be like my small legacy and something my family could keep.

It wouldn't be a bad place to die either.

If you are the Jesus type, someplace like that would be a perfect place for that too.

I would not spend it in some hospital or hospice just to drag another 2 months out of it. I'd rather be remembered for dying in process of trying to do something I loved. Good thing I don't race stock cars!

I guess plan B if I couldn't travel would be to stay local and go work with Habitat For Humanity or maybe the local High School shop program to do some good with what I had left. If they'd have me.

Not sure what plan C would be. It does not involve sitting in a hospital waiting for a miracle.

Answer 4

Virgil, Why do you have such a limited life span can you add to your question on this? I have walked in your shoes and I can honestly say I was given a second chance. I was given not even a month. Deathly ill with stage 4 bone cancer and no hope. I will say that God, Prayer and alternative medicine saved me.
Now for discussion. Depends on how ill you are as the brain can get confused with terminal illness. I did biofeedback and meditation(I must say I have to do it again or I will be right back where I started).
One should live every day as their last. The biggest obstacle I personally faced was fear. Took me a while too overcome and accept where I was at. The other thing I took a different tack and decided that no matter what the doctors kept saying I was not going to die. This has big effect on your longevity.
I had to learn to forigive all the hurts that had occured in my life. I had to meditate on those the people I felt who had hurt me and forgive them. No easy task. I have to now openly let it all go and every now and then I note I bring something up..I have to say..Oh that's right I forgave them. And mean it. It is kind of liberating. I no longer fuss about small things. I am still agressive, in a nice way, at solving problems . We have travelled recently and had many neg things I just sat back and took it calmly. The airport/plane people say "Whoa you are not going to yell at me!!".
I believe we go to a much better place. There is no hell as we are taught, as in my opinon, this earth is hell (one does not have to treat it as such but look around what could be worse sometimes) Do things you always wanted if you can. Just believe you are going to live forever and act like tomorrow is your last day.
We could all be hit by a car or be in a plane crash or a tornado take us out. I decided not to worry about it as there is nothing I can do except work on my personal growth, live a healthy life,and do all I can in MY power to stay alive.Be Thankful for my family and friends. Prayer is a powerful tool and I had people from all around the world, regardless of race, creed or religion hold me up in prayer. All the best and I hope you make it!! :)

Answer 5

This may sound morbid, but I think you may have an advantage. We all tend to live as though we are going to live forever, and to actually know when you will die gives you an edge. Now you can do all those things you have been putting off. Take time with your family. Go on trips to places you´ve always wanted to see. Stay up all night and watch the sunrise. Eat all your favorite foods even if they are fattening. Enjoy all this life has to offer. And, I wouldn´t be giving you a fair answer if I didn´t add that thinking about the life to come is a good idea too. Close out your life here, and prepare yourself for Eternity.

Answer 6

DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, BE WITH WHO MAKES YOU SMILE, LAUGH AS MUCH AS YOU BREATH, AND LOVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART!
dude that sucks, really. if you have kids i would take them on an amazing trip somewhere.
if they are a little older (teens) see if they want to go skydiving!
if you don't have kids still go skydiving! just for the hell of it!
i don't know where you are health wise (energy level) but still exercise and eat right because it might (should give you more time)
and you feel better anyways!
the way i live is NO SCARS NO STORIES! if you don't do things that you could potentialy regret or could hurt yourself then you aren't gonna leave anyting fun to hear about!

if i had a year left i would be going everywhere i hadn't been. i would still work because thats what people do but every weekend would be a new adventure! i would live it up!
and i would learn to be even more passive than i am with confrontation because the little things don't matter and its not worth wasting time arrguing when you could be laughing and haveing fun!
i would also buy a horse, because when you take a horse out for a ride in the woods there is no better free feeling than that. it just feels good and its a great way to spend time with yourself and reflect!
i would bother trying to gravel to people who i have pissed off in the past, i would make appologies but if they can't get over it then they are the one's who have some growing to do!
well all i can say besides that is talk with god. personally i don't go to church but i am very close to god. just ask him to show you the way and talk to him every night when your laying in bed about random things like your day or whatever just like he was your best friend!

good luck and i hope for you the very best!

Answer 7

I'm short on inspiration, but I would get my will updated, make charitable bequests, sell goods and property that my heirs have little use for, pay my bills, let my executor know where my important papers are.

I'm hoping to live a while longer, but I got a lot of pleasure and solice writing my biography and a brief history of my parents and grandparents. The latter was difficult because they died when I was quite young. But it was fun. I learned the elements of Photoshop and scanned old photos to include in the opus. I took the finished work to Kinko's and had it copied and inexpensively bound and gave copies to my children and others who I thought might like it. I might send it to our local historical society. That could be a pure ego trip, for they might relegate it to the circular file. Conversely, a hundred years from now a great grandchild might enjoy reading about me. As you said, "ya never know!"

Answer 8

Try to make the most of every day I had left with parents, friends, and I would have some fun go to the movies or to Disneyland! Be outside when it was daylight, stay up and look at the stars! Smell flowers, try new kinds of food. Live Love Laugh! I am sorry about all the comments you got last time it was really uncalled for! Good luck!

Answer 9

There exists a little touch of magic in our world that can serve to immortalize anyone who embraces it.

Albert Einstein has been gone for many years now, yet anyone who clicks on this link http://www.monthlyreview.org/598einst.htm has the brilliant mind of Einstein speaking directly to them. I have read much history during my lifetime and I am still amazed by the way the written word is able to directly connect people who lived many generations apart.

Were I in your position, I would write.

Answer 10

I would do the same thing I do everyday. Make every moment count, spending it with the people I hold near and dear. I do live each day like it may be my last. Why? I don't know when I am going to go, I don't think anyone truly knows when they are going. Do what sets you free, what you love and be with the people you love and care about. What ever you do, make it count!!