I recently stumbled upon two very different accounts of life. I encourage you to read each and arrive at thoughts of your own. I haven't got much to say about each specific piece.
The first a view of a the life of a 104 year old shut in, Huguette Clark.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38719231/ns/business-small_business
The second a three part journal by Mike Celizic, a news reporter for the TODAY show.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31526935/ns/today-today_health http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31831869/ns/today-today_health http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38771115/ns/today-today_health
My Thoughts:
In the first selection, I read about a woman, age 104 who has amassed more money than I can imagine, more possessions than I could ever want. She has money to give 10 million to a friend or charity in need. She has a collection of dolls from all around the world. She sold a violin for $6 million, which is pocket change anyway. Yet, no one, save her accountant and attourney, has seen her in approximately 2 decades. 2 decades!! That is my entire lifetime! I'm sure you could present a decent arguement that she's not even alive (I've already done so in my head); however, even if you don't account for the last 20 years, did she really live life? What is life with out the friends and family who fill our day to day? The phone calls, post cards, love letters, emails, facebooks, texts, support, care, love. Yet every day I wake to join the daily rat race chasing down the next dollar to pay the next bill or buy the next thing.
In the second selection, I read about a man approximately age 60 facing certain death and dealing with it rather publicily. He's choosing to die rather than to continue fighting. My first inclination is to morn for this man, to lament the passing of another life, but in the end he won me over in his celebration of a life well lived. While he may be admitting defeat to a horrible enemy called cancer, he has certianly won in his "terminal disease called life." Perhaps I'm a sap, perhaps a bit too sentimental at times, but I'm not afraid to tell you that after reading this, I did in fact take the time to look around and appreciate my life, to stop and smell the roses so to speak.
After I began writing this post (more than a month ago now), a friend suggested I read The Last Lecture. I am now passing that suggestion on to you, especially if you are possessed by science. First sentence of the book, "I have an engineering problem." He goes on to tell his story and how he too showed life who's boss. Again, I'll leave you to read and reflect on your own, but here's a box of tissue; my sleeve ran out of dry space.
My Soapbox:
Atop my soapbox is a preachy place, but know that these suggestions are as much for me as they are for you, perhaps even moreso. I prescribe that you read it with a grain of salt, note that I'm learning along the way and that this might just be a personal pep talk in a public forum.
Perspective is everything and I (we) am (are) capable of changing the way I (we) look at my (our) surroundings. (you get the theme of the parens I hope). Just as I can take a physical model in my hand and rotate it around to see all the different sides, I can take my life and flip it 'round. Sometimes it takes time and distance to see what I didn't see right away when life happened in front of my face. ("Hind sight is 20/20") Other times, it is my responsibility to "get a grip" and try looking from a different view point. So lately I'm trying my hardest to keep life in perspective, to see from the objective, take note of all the positive, and find the pluses in every minus.
Life and Such:
or what you really came to my blog to read. If you made it this far, Congratulations!! Your prize is an update on things.
Things are much the same, but perspectives are changing both physically and mentally. A puzzle may at first glance seem difficult, arduous and frightening, but rotated or shifted slightly it becomes quite simple, quite light and entertaining.
Kanee update: I am 6 months out of surgery, no longer in physical therapy, and I've been cleared to run, officially. Using the next few monthes to "make this leg stronger than the other" and strengthen my core muscles. The next major milestone will be in December when I will get (buy) a custom fit brace so I can go back to playing competitive sports. Additionally, as you've probably heard, I have officially paid off the medical world and I own my knee.
Job: still here, things are getting a little more interesting. Although i did reread that manual about urinals and hammers through pipes...
Apartment: Moved to Tacoma about a month ago! I went for the classic apartment complex this time around because the things about my townhouse that I used to find cute grew rather annoying. Now I can play all the raquet ball I want, and if I so choose, I can join the masses of washingtonians that have fake tans. I have discovered that a raquet ball court actually makes a suitable subsitution for an entire soccer team...
Brecks: He's still adorable, per the norm.
Furthering my education: I passed the FE, woot. I'm taking the GRE soon with the intent on returning to school circa fall 2011,
Recent or interesting events: Sam visited, Mom visted, attended a wedding, saw my bff and met her boyfriend for the first time ever. I ate spam, and put my hair in a ponytail.
