When I was in Amsterdam for Hive Fest, I had an interesting conversation with a few people about whether anyone truly wants to die. To me, it is unconceivable that someone would choose to die, or say that they've lived enough of a life already that dying wouldn't be a problem.
Picture life as a book. Each chapter brings with it a fresh assortment of adventures, challenges, moments of joy, and lessons. You would want to keep turning the pages, wouldn't you? Now, imagine reaching a point in the book where the words start to hurt, where every turn of the page brings discomfort, even pain. Some might wish to close the book, yet others might insist on turning the pages, hoping the pain eases or the narrative improves. This is the crux of the discussion on life and the desire to cling to it, or not.
Think about it. Who among us, enjoying a story, would wish it to end abruptly? None, I would hazard to guess. Similarly, it's not hard to understand why the concept of wanting to die can seem unfathomable to many of us. It goes against our very human nature, a primal instinct to survive and thrive.
Yet, another perspective emerges, suggesting that it's not the story we wish to abandon, but rather the discomfort, the pain that has intruded upon it. When our bodies fail us, when disease or age introduces unbearable strain, some question whether it's worth it to continue. The book of life becomes a source of distress rather than enjoyment.
My encounter with COVID-19 highlights this very point. I was in ICU, with SpO2 below 70, my familiarity with health and comfort was stripped away, and I faced an adversary as formidable as death itself.
I emerged from the hospital, not unscathed but victorious, carrying with me a more profound understanding than ever before:the realization of health's true worth. Like a beautiful sunrise often taken for granted until obscured by clouds, health, too, is an overlooked blessing until it slips away.
As an athlete, I've always had an affinity towards maintaining my health. It's not about setting records, but rather, about cherishing and preserving my 'wealth.' My 'wealth', which isn't measured in money or even Hive, but in breaths taken without pain, in a life lived without physical constraints.
The lesson? Health, indeed is wealth. A wealth that allows us to savour our life's story, to relish every twist, every turn without flinching from discomfort or pain. We should nurture our 'wealth', guard it zealously, and continue to turn the pages of our life's book. After all, don't we all want to read the full story?
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Greetings friends, in life there will always be challenges, moments where one has to think very carefully, whether to continue or give up, and as you say so well, it was possible to create a great book full of many moments of happiness, joy, sadness since each one is the one who is going to forge that journey and the writing in said book. COVID was one of the most difficult chapters for everything and even in that book it could have been the end for everyone, since they were moments where health was on the ground and having all the money did not matter, since with that I could not do a lot, just beg and beg and keep documenting each line until you get to breathe again and be safe again and in that way smile again and be here celebrating. The only thing left is to continue closing and opening new books in life.
Has the thought: "I wouldn't mind it if I died tomorrow" ever come to mind?
@elmerlin Nope friend, I still have a long way to go and do several things. and have you thought about it?
@davidpena21 I haven't, but my interlocutors convinced me that nobody truly wants to die absent ill health.
@elmerlin That's right friend, very good advice, life is one and you have to enjoy it to the fullest. did you run today friend elmer?
@davidpena21 Today was a shorter run, with strength and conditioning. Chest/Tricep day.
@elmerlin Excellent friend, a great way to close the week. Training triceps is the best, since it demands a lot of concentration and doing the exercises with the pulley are incredible. Do you know those exercises?
For me this is a sensitive issue at the moment. My dad is practically hopeless due to cancer. But yes, as you say, if we have the gift of being healthy we should be able to have the gratitude to continue to enjoy life in the best way. Now, there are cases where we don't know how to react if that life is no longer the best it can be. I'm glad you came out of COVID victorious. There are two of us, I was also very ill and it affected my lungs a lot, but my desire to sing made me change my life habits and now I feel better every day. Sometimes I suffer a physical or emotional relapse or two, but having people like you in my life who motivate me helps me a lot to keep on wanting to turn the pages of the book. Cuddles🥰
I'm sorry to hear that zully. Both my parents have cancer, and it is something I struggle with a lot as well. But, I know that they have lived their life to the best and they are doing everything they can to live longer. That fills me with hope and courage to face my own demons if they come again.
@elmerlin I am very sorry. I think these are experiences that help us to see life from other perspectives. ,🫂✨
I want to live many years of health and wellness, to share with my only son who is now a man and with so many beautiful people that this magical world of blockchain has given me. It is nice and nourishing to read you. You are a person with a deep heart and full of beautiful feelings. Facing death up close, makes us without a doubt, want to love life more and hold on to it. I choose to live long, in good health. Health is part of loving life. Thank you for these beautiful and inspiring words. Long life to you... And for me 🤭❤️. A hug from Venezuela.
Thank you for taking the time to read my words. Our lives are better because of those who share it with us. In your case, your son and all the people who you've come to know and hold dear. To a long and healthy life for all of us!
I believe that no one values health and life itself more than when they have been on the verge of losing it. At that moment, your perception of life changes completely, and then you start to give value to what really deserves it: ourselves.
We aspire to many things in life, usually material goods, because that is how we think we understand success. However, happiness can be associated with the simple fact of being able to breathe without pain.
Isn't it interesting, that people seek that which they do not have?
Of course, but without losing your life in it. Many people feel guilty for allowing themselves to live, and life is a short time, today we are here and tomorrow we do not know.
My parents are a good example, they are Asian and live frugally, almost too frugal. I always think they could live their life better, but they cling onto their savings in their old age. Both of them have cancer and it makes me wonder if they could have lived their lives more comfortably if they didn't cling to their money so much.
Maybe it depends a lot on the belief system we have grown up with or the one we have been formed with.
Thank you for sharing such an intimate story. Cheers and life to your parents, my friend.
This is the question we all ask ourselves in life.
But part of my life I was afraid of dying, with the passing of time I understood that it is part of life, it is the cycle that we all must fulfill, after reading books taught me to accept it and stop thinking so much about it and I took care to enjoy more the life I lead because at any time we leave this world.
I really like what you say, that as an athlete it is of valuable importance to take care of your wealth, it is that health that has its own unique value and that cannot be overlooked.
We have to take care of it, neither money nor anything else can take care of it, only our will to make the best decisions to take care of our health.
Sometimes we only realize that when illness comes, that is when we should worry and it does not have to be the opposite, if we take care of our health from the beginning we will be healthy in the future.
Good health is of real importance because it ensures a longer and more durable life.
You have made me reflect and take action because exercise helps me and I have neglected it.
I am sorry for what you went through, and that you put your family in such despair but you are strong my brother and you sold it all.
Let's keep writing in our book of life and have many adventures to write with joyful hope to live. I send you a big hug.
You make a good point about the cycle of life. (Aren't we all Lion King fans? 😅)
But, it also undeniably reminds us that due to our finite time, we must ensure we insert as much quality into that limited time. It's a delicate balance and I believe we're all in search of it.
Hahaha yes we are all familiar with the lion king, by the way I watched it a lot in my childhood and much of it to see my nephew.
But yes time is limited and giving warmth to our life is the best and it is what is necessary.