Peace of Mind

 

Yesterday, I wrote about the simplicity of life and happiness.

Let me share my personal story...

Facts:

• I am 77 years old and before 2025 ends, I will be 78.
• I have been constantly treated for one or two cancers since I was 60 (Lymphoma/Melanoma).
• At 60 I have a serious heart attack and had five stints inserted to avoid a triple bypass.
• At 74, I had L2-L3-L4-L5-S1 fused.
• At 75, I tore one tendon off my right rotator cuff and 2 tendons off my left rotator cuff.
• I do not have a company retirement program, nor a 401K - I can only rely on Social Security and what my wife and I have saved.
• I have never earned more than $50,000/year and that was only for one year.
• My wife has had both hips replaced and is currently living with a degenerative spine and could potentially be losing her eyesight.
• She has had cancer but has been in remission for 6 years (knock on wood).

Needless to say, our lifestyle is SIMPLE and it suits us both fine.  We watch what we spend, buy NOTHING we don't need.  We vacation twice a year at Myrtle Beach, SC and go out to dinner once or twice a month.  Eating half, bringing the rest home to eat the next night.  We look for bargains.

We are both happy and content and want for nothing.

We take care of four cats, three are ours, one is a stray that seems to like it here.

We enjoy what we have, seldom fight and never go to bed angry.

We live life one day at a time and are grateful for every aspect of that day even when it does not go according to plan.

Maybe age has given this to us or maybe we just finally learned how to properly live life.  My brother and sister do not live like we do and cannot understand why we are like that.  Telling us we have no motivation or desire to become better.

Every day, I try to do things a little bit better than I did the day before.  Recognize what needs to be done rather than have it be suggested.  Not forgetting to brush my teeth.  Making sure that I notice nature and enjoy its beauty.

I very seldom think about my health or what I cannot do.  I take daily chemo pills and two infusions monthly for my cancers, so the reminder is constantly there, but it does not cloud my thoughts or my behavior.  

LIFE IS WHAT IT IS...  and nothing more...