Business of Life

Life Matters

Today, I started as a contributor to the Third Age Blog where I will post every Thursday.  I'm honored to be included as part of a group of talented and accomplished people, each a different third age voice, that will become even more interesting as time goes by and as people get in the groove.

My first piece called Learning from Life, all about how you learn your most important lessons.

Today, there's an extraordinary piece by Cicero at Winds of Change that is a must read if you are like I am fascinated by the dramatic stories of when peoples' lives changed, by near death or otherwise.

When you hear or read such a story, you know you are touching the essence of an other who could be yourself.

So, July 21st is the day I went to the bottom of the cold sea. It's the day I almost slipped away, where the Visitor would've taken my hand and led me into oblivion. It was the quietest day of my life. Quiet like the grave under a starry winter sky. July 21st was also the beginning of my recovery. I'm convinced that a normal hospital might have misdiagnosed my illness. I am blessed.

Near death experiences change people. It changed me.

The fact is, I'm not fully recovered. You wouldn't know it if you knew me, because I make do. I'm well enough. I can tire easily, and I have storms of twitches and cramps. I've never felt the same, as though I was 100 years old once, and pulled out of it. But I came out of this experience renewed, with a fresh mission. I'll call it Cicero's Imperatives:

Living matters. Life matters. Adding something positive to the world is imperative. Do not squander life.

Everyday I ask myself: Am I wasting time? Is what I'm doing making a difference? Will it matter? Will it heal? Am I building something better?

These are questions you can ask yourself at any time.  They become more insistent in the Third Age