| SPONGEOSOPHY ESSAY "The Last Week Law" A secret to being happy in bad times |
I am often asked what is my secret to happiness. People say, “Sponge, how do you
manage to keep smiling through this difficult life of yours?” They then tell me that if
they faced what I live through every day they might not have the strength to live,
much less stay positive. I have a simple answer for them. “Of course you can.” And
so, my readers, can you.
Simply follow what I call the “Last week law.” Simply put, live each day as if this were
going to be the last week of your life.
Ask yourself this question. If you knew that you had only one week to live, how would
you spend it? Would you waste your last precious bits of time wallowing in the stench
of self-pity? Would you ruin your last days by making yourself and those who love
you miserable? Or would you make the mad dash to set things in your life right?
Would you set the record straight on things, and be good to those that love you?
Would you enjoy every precious second? I think most of you would.
Now don’t think I am condoning the “party to the end” philosophy. Most say that they
would do some behavior they always wanted to, something irresponsible and usually
vulgar. However, I have yet to meet a terminally ill person who wants to go out and
have sex with strangers or something along those lines.
Most of the dying that I have met rush to set things square with the people in their
lives. They try to pay off their debts, make-up with loved ones, and leave some kind
of mark for their children. Their worst pain usually isn't from their illnesses, but from
the time they wasted in their lives. They take their last days and make the most of
them, as should you.
Now, I have alluded to in the past my “list of ten.” This was a list of things I wanted to
do before I died. Things I had dreamed of or hoped for, but never made the time.
There is the rub. We never think about making that time until we see time is running
our for us. We think of all the things we have to do in our daily routines and let them
get in the way of enjoying this precious gift of time.
Here is a big secret to happiness, “Never let life get in the way of living.”
Never let life get in the way of love, children, and most of all, yourself. When you
spend all of your time sweating the small stuff, you forget the “big picture.” When we
were kids we thought of all that neat stuff that looked so cool to try. Then we grew up
and our dreams got lost in the shuffle.
We worry about so much mundane crap that we forget that life is to be enjoyed.
People ask me how I can possibly enjoy life.
Simple. I choose to. Remember, “bad times are inevitable, misery is optional.”
I live each day to its fullest because I know my time will run out, perhaps within a
week, perhaps a year, perhaps a few years. The point is, I know. I have faced death
and he doesn't scare me. Rather, he looks like the one who will deliver me from pain.
Every day I wake up and think how I can make the most of this sunrise. I don’t know
how many more I will get, so I should do the best I can with it.
Some days are rough, so it means simply chatting with loved ones or watching some
videos. Some days it means working extra hard on my bowling game. Some days it
means doing the favors I do for people that give me the “warm-fuzzies.”
No matter the days though, I face them with a smile. Like my greatest hero says, “Life
is not full of challenges, life is the challenge.” On the bad days I look at misery like it
is a bully. I look at it like someone who is doing all they can to take the smile off of my
face. But that bully is no match for me, nor is it a match for you. No amount of crap
life throws at me will make me choose to be miserable. The harder the bully hits me,
the harder I make myself laugh.
Sometimes I see the bully loaded for bear, rolling up its sleeves. I know that the day
life is bringing me is going to be a very tough one. That is when I am at my best. I
steel myself and dig in my feet. I arm myself with the love of those close to me and all
of the good energy I can. I tell the bully of the bad days, “bring it on, you will lose.”
Like me, nothing; not life, disease, even other people can make you miserable. You
choose to be miserable or you don’t. The key is, that choice is always in your
power.
I have said this before, but I think I must repeat it again. Those of you who are
healthy are living on borrowed time as well. Your death is coming also, I assure you.
I am lucky, I was warned ahead of time. If this were to be your last week on earth,
what would you do? Think about that and look at your life. The power to defeat the
bully of misery is within you. Roll up your sleeves and show the bully who is in control
of your LIVING.
As my assistant Jamie keeps telling those of you who write, "Life is short, why hate
living?"
Be well,
Sponge
03/07/2006
manage to keep smiling through this difficult life of yours?” They then tell me that if
they faced what I live through every day they might not have the strength to live,
much less stay positive. I have a simple answer for them. “Of course you can.” And
so, my readers, can you.
Simply follow what I call the “Last week law.” Simply put, live each day as if this were
going to be the last week of your life.
Ask yourself this question. If you knew that you had only one week to live, how would
you spend it? Would you waste your last precious bits of time wallowing in the stench
of self-pity? Would you ruin your last days by making yourself and those who love
you miserable? Or would you make the mad dash to set things in your life right?
Would you set the record straight on things, and be good to those that love you?
Would you enjoy every precious second? I think most of you would.
Now don’t think I am condoning the “party to the end” philosophy. Most say that they
would do some behavior they always wanted to, something irresponsible and usually
vulgar. However, I have yet to meet a terminally ill person who wants to go out and
have sex with strangers or something along those lines.
Most of the dying that I have met rush to set things square with the people in their
lives. They try to pay off their debts, make-up with loved ones, and leave some kind
of mark for their children. Their worst pain usually isn't from their illnesses, but from
the time they wasted in their lives. They take their last days and make the most of
them, as should you.
Now, I have alluded to in the past my “list of ten.” This was a list of things I wanted to
do before I died. Things I had dreamed of or hoped for, but never made the time.
There is the rub. We never think about making that time until we see time is running
our for us. We think of all the things we have to do in our daily routines and let them
get in the way of enjoying this precious gift of time.
Here is a big secret to happiness, “Never let life get in the way of living.”
Never let life get in the way of love, children, and most of all, yourself. When you
spend all of your time sweating the small stuff, you forget the “big picture.” When we
were kids we thought of all that neat stuff that looked so cool to try. Then we grew up
and our dreams got lost in the shuffle.
We worry about so much mundane crap that we forget that life is to be enjoyed.
People ask me how I can possibly enjoy life.
Simple. I choose to. Remember, “bad times are inevitable, misery is optional.”
I live each day to its fullest because I know my time will run out, perhaps within a
week, perhaps a year, perhaps a few years. The point is, I know. I have faced death
and he doesn't scare me. Rather, he looks like the one who will deliver me from pain.
Every day I wake up and think how I can make the most of this sunrise. I don’t know
how many more I will get, so I should do the best I can with it.
Some days are rough, so it means simply chatting with loved ones or watching some
videos. Some days it means working extra hard on my bowling game. Some days it
means doing the favors I do for people that give me the “warm-fuzzies.”
No matter the days though, I face them with a smile. Like my greatest hero says, “Life
is not full of challenges, life is the challenge.” On the bad days I look at misery like it
is a bully. I look at it like someone who is doing all they can to take the smile off of my
face. But that bully is no match for me, nor is it a match for you. No amount of crap
life throws at me will make me choose to be miserable. The harder the bully hits me,
the harder I make myself laugh.
Sometimes I see the bully loaded for bear, rolling up its sleeves. I know that the day
life is bringing me is going to be a very tough one. That is when I am at my best. I
steel myself and dig in my feet. I arm myself with the love of those close to me and all
of the good energy I can. I tell the bully of the bad days, “bring it on, you will lose.”
Like me, nothing; not life, disease, even other people can make you miserable. You
choose to be miserable or you don’t. The key is, that choice is always in your
power.
I have said this before, but I think I must repeat it again. Those of you who are
healthy are living on borrowed time as well. Your death is coming also, I assure you.
I am lucky, I was warned ahead of time. If this were to be your last week on earth,
what would you do? Think about that and look at your life. The power to defeat the
bully of misery is within you. Roll up your sleeves and show the bully who is in control
of your LIVING.
As my assistant Jamie keeps telling those of you who write, "Life is short, why hate
living?"
Be well,
Sponge
03/07/2006
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