If today were the last day of my life
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
1 | 如果今天是我生命的最后一天 |
笔记
- avoid the trap of … to lose 患得患失
- in a row 接连,连续;
- row n.排;划船;路;吵闹
- encountered adj.遇到的,遭遇的;
动词encounter的过去式和过去分词. - expectations 预期继承的遗产
- embarrassment n.难堪,令人尴尬(或为难)的人(或事物);窘迫;拮据
- fall away (感觉)突然消失,突然消散
- away adv.远离;在远处
- trap 圈套,陷阱,困境
- naked adj.裸体的,无遮蔽的
- be diagnosed with sth 被诊断出…(病)
- tumor n.肿瘤;肿块;赘生物
- pancreas n.胰脏
- incurable adj.不能医治;不能矫正;无救的