A few months ago, Bruce Willis, the Actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Nothing much is known of this disease and it's not surprising that it currently has no cure. However, research says it affects speech and causes memory loss. The actor has come to the end of his career.
One thing in life is sure, age and death catch up with even the best of us at the end. Over the years I have enjoyed watching Mr Bruce on my screen. His acting prowess is incredible. And I would choose to watch a movie simply because he is there. He is certainly on my list of top actors but even the best of us cannot escape death or age.
I recall when cancer took Chadwick Boseman and handed him over to death. It shocked the world. Everyone mourned him knowing that someday it could be their turn. Other great men and women had also answered the natured call even those I thought were untouchable as a child; Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston, the golden voice of America. There are people whom you do not know about who have threaded the same path. There is no escaping from nature. It's not you today but it could be tomorrow.
There is never enough time.
Death and age sit daily waiting for us, to pick us up once it's our turn. We can't escape age and the troubles that may come with it including sickness. And those who don't get to old age are caught up by death; during sleep, on the roads, on the sick bed, in the shower, everywhere and anywhere.
Once it's your turn, death would come and it would show no respect, and not care whether you are clothed or not, hungry or not, sleeping or awake, singing or dancing, whatever you are doing matters not. Neither will it care who you are or what you have achieved.
When do you want to die? When you are 60? 70? 80? 100? 120? Everyone wants to live long. But some of them will die young. Another reality is that old age may not be as fun as we think it will be. I don’t think I would want to get to the stage where I become a burden to my family. Some might argue that those who do not take care of their health when they were young will suffer it in old age. However, some still do the needful.
Every day we wake up, we get closer to old age or death (whichever comes first.) For every daybreak, a day is gone in our life span. Yet, it surprises me how much we procrastinate thinking we have more time. You may live long or not. No matter how many “it’s not my portion” you say, whatever will be will be. And if you are waiting for the perfect time to start living your life, you will end up doing nothing.
Time is not going, we are. Some have said that 24 hours is not enough for a Day. Most don’t finish the tasks they set up for themselves for the day. We will always complain about time. There is never enough time. So you should spend your time on things that matter to you.
The best life is what you say it is
It’s a scary and weird thought though but I am afraid of living alone because it could take days to discover me if I die. Lol. I want to be discovered while I’m still fresh. My ideal death also would be when I’m sleeping. But I have not been able to figure out where to see death to hold this discussion. So, I will continue to just…live what I think is my best life.
Your best life is what you say it is. Some people want to just make money and be comfortable. Others wish to be part of global decision-makers and make great impacts. Some are not ambitious, they want to be comfortable enough to afford the basics, get married, have children and be there for their kids. They want nothing more in life. Some want to live quietly and not care about what’s happening in the world. There is also a set of people who just want to build a career and remain single. We can find those who do not want marriage or kids. The list is endless as people want different things.
But I think the major thing we seek in anything we want is happiness and a certain fulfilment. So don’t look at others whom you think are living their best. They might be sad. Live your best life. So that when death or age catches up with you, there will be no need to wish for a rewind of time.
Cheers to your continued growth and a fulfilled life.
With love and everything beautiful,
Chinonyelum.
PS: If you are inspired by this newsletter, do me a favour, like, comment or recommend it to someone.
I do not have a specific way that I will prefer to die. Lol, however when it comes, I want it to be that I have lived a great and fulfilled life on Earth.
Anyway, death is a scary conversation to hold because where I come from, we do not talk about it (it is secret and sad and also scary). Notwithstanding, I love this about this writer (Nonye Alo) because she faces topics like this with great courage. Therefore, making it easier for people like us to see the bright side of things.
I wish u a continuous personal growth, thank you for this insightful writer up.
I want to die while sleeping, with a smile on my face. That smile will tell the world of the stories buried deep in my heart—of how I have lived. I do not know when I will die, but astonishingly, I find that I am not afraid of it. Death, to me, is a breath of fresh air to the icy prison of Life.
Your piece is introspective. It reminds us to look inwards and live the best way we can. We don't know whether the grim reaper lurks near or is tapping, as Edgar Poe puts it, rapping on our chamber door.