A Week To Live

A week to live puts the really important things into a new perspective.  What would you do?  Here’s what I would do with only a week to live.

1. Get Connected

I would visit my oldest living relative and chat.  I know he would tell me a story from his youth and I would listen and feel connected with the millions of elders who have passed down their stories and wisdom throughout human history and with the generations who have listened, reflected and learnt.

2. Thanks to my mother

I would visit my mum and thank her for her love and all the things she gave me that I never even thought to thank her for.  My education, encouragement, food, clothes and a roof which I have taken for granted throughout my life.

3. Play

After dinner, I would say to my children, one each evening, “let’s play”.  I would tell them that tonight, they can choose when they want to go to bed and that when they do, I will lie with them until we fall asleep.  Then we would play, play, play.  We’d create worlds and wonders, magic and miracles and play as only children do.  Perhaps I would read a book, have a midnight snack and finally when they said “I want to go to bed now”, we would curl up, I would give a kiss goodnight and listen to the slow change of their breathing relaxing into sleep.

4. Teenage Sleep

One morning, I would sleep until midday.  The dreams come when rested, and I would dream and enjoy the warmth of my bed.  As the sun rises, I would re-live the teenage certainty that it is way more important to enjoy now since there is always tomorrow to cram-in the last important things.

5. Be Satisfied.  - 10 Favorite Meals In One

I would ask my mum to make me Coffee Junket.  No one else could make it for me because I think I am the only one in my family who likes it and only she could make it with the love I would need for this meal.

While I was eating, I would think of all the wonderful meals I have enjoyed.

• I would squash a spoonful on the top of my mouth and think of the firm texture of crayfish I tasted for the first time with my Grandfather.
• I would roll a piece around my mouth recollecting the silken tofu I ate in Copenhagen with my wife.
• I would suck it through my teeth and remember the lime spiders I enjoyed as a kid through summer.
• I would allow it to melt on my tongue like the smoothest, finest Swiss Chocolate enjoyed by the fire.
• I would take a big chunk biting through as if biting into a fresh sweet orange picked from a friends tree.
• I …

Then I would lick the bowl and I would be satisfied.

6. Numinous Trip

I would visit 2 places I love the mountains for sunrise and the beach for sunset.  Places with special meaning to me where I could soak in their fascination, magnetism and power and reflect on my life and what lies beyond.  For the trip, I would take an open top car sports car to feel wind, the road and the machine for my journey.  I would watch sunrise over the mountain listening to the birds and animals.  Watching as the shadows creep away replaced by light and press my body against the warming rock.  Then I would drive to the beach and listen to the never-ending thumping of the waves, the smell of salt and the feel of the wind sweeping between continents.

7. A Forever Day

I would plan a forever day with my wife.  We would arrange to meet and I would arrive early to feel that special anticipation you get when waiting for a lover.  We would chat and do simple spontaneous things without care or reason.  We might visit the zoo because she loves elephants with their long memories and peaceful demeanor.  Coffee, chocolate, movie, who knows.  As lovers, we would make special moments together then make love  lovingly.

8. Hope Is Human

Somewhere along the way during my last 7 days, I would get a second opinion because hope is human and changing a week to live into 2 weeks to live is a 100% improvement.

9. Leave In Order

I would make a list of all the things which my family would need to know or might have trouble finding.  Focusing just on the important things.  I would include a short message about my funeral just enough to take the key decisions away from loved ones who shouldn’t have to think about that, taking away the burden if something goes less than perfectly.

10 Pass On Treasures

I would pass on my special treasures with a story of each item’s history and meaning to my children and family.  Perhaps including a letter of love and encouragement.

11. A Feast of Friendship and Sharing

I would plan a feast with family and friends.  I would tell them to bring things that they either grew, made or simply love and come and help cook.  We would eat, drink and share a feast of tastes, fun, laughter and friendship.  Celebrate Simple Abundance!

12. Finally

And on my last day, I would cry and then I would laugh and then I would be gone.  A week to live isn’t long, but it would be meaningful.