If today were the last day of my life

JOBS

For the past 33 years, I’ve looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn’t even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months.

My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor’s code for prepare to die. It means to try and tell your kids everything. You thought you’d have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family.

It means to say your goodbyes.

翻译

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如果今天是我生命的最后一天

在过去的33年里，我曾经每天早上对着镜中的自己问自己：“如果今天是我生命中的最后一天，我会做我我要做的事情么？”后来每当我发现我的回答连续几天是“不”的时候，我明白我需要些改变了。

记住自己将不久于人世，是帮助我做出人生重大选择的最重要的方式。因为大多数事情，外界的期待，所有的荣誉，所有对窘境和失败的担忧，这些事情恰恰在死亡面前什么都不是了，死亡才是人生真正重要的事情。

记住自己将不久于人世，是避免掉入“我已经失去什么”的思维陷阱的最佳途径。你已经无所牵挂，没有理由不遵从自己的内心。

一年前，我被确诊得了癌症。我早上7:30扫了一下我的诊断，它清楚地写着，我的胰腺有肿瘤。在此之前我竟然不知道胰腺是什么。医生告诉我那是最不能治愈的一种癌症，我大约还能活3-6个月。

我的医生建议我回家将后事安排好。这意味着尝试告诉你的孩子所有的事。你要想想将原本打算10年见告诉他们的话要在短短几个月里讲完。这意味着要确认每件事情都已经安排妥当，以便未来你的家人可以更从容地应对。

这意味着和这个世界说再见。

笔记

  1. avoid the trap of … to lose 患得患失
  2. in a row 接连，连续；
  3. row n.排；划船；路；吵闹
  4. encountered adj.遇到的，遭遇的；
    动词encounter的过去式和过去分词.
  5. expectations 预期继承的遗产
  6. embarrassment n.难堪，令人尴尬（或为难）的人（或事物）；窘迫；拮据
  7. fall away （感觉）突然消失，突然消散
  8. away adv.远离；在远处
  9. trap 圈套，陷阱，困境
  10. naked adj.裸体的，无遮蔽的
  11. be diagnosed with sth 被诊断出…（病）
  12. tumor n.肿瘤；肿块；赘生物
  13. pancreas n.胰脏
  14. incurable adj.不能医治；不能矫正；无救的
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