dying ??? Regrets of The Dying - THE 7 passages of LIFE - What the world needs NOW is SUPPORT CIRCLES !!! - Susan Lynne Schwenger

KERRI

My friend Kerri Grote died this morning.

While I am still processing, I wanted to share the words she left to be read upon her passing.

Life is short. I hope they bring you perspective, inspiration and healing like they did for me.

R.I.P Kerri. I love you.

"If you’re reading this, this fu$king brain cancer probably got me.

But let me be crystal clear while I’m able:

I did not ”lose a battle” against cancer.

This is a ridiculous, steamy pile of horse XXXX that society has dumped on cancer patients.

Western medicine, and Western culture, especially, is so uncomfortable talking about death
that instead it created this “battle” analogy that basically shames people who die from cancer.

News flash: None of us gets out alive from this rodeo called life.

There is no shame in dying from cancer – or any serious illness.

And it doesn’t need to be a battle. It’s a transition that each of us will go through.

I was asked by a shaman, whom I spoke to after my second brain surgery,

“Are you running towards life or running away from death?”

Whoa! That got my attention.

There’s a BIG difference. I got it wrong more often than not.

Don’t let fear fuel your choices. Live fearlessly. Run TOWARDS life.

Don’t worry about what people will think.

Trust me, it doesn’t matter.

Focus on you.

Be true to yourself.

Be your own best friend.

People who tell you you’re selfish are not your people.

If the voice in your head says these unkind things, get a new voice.

Honor your mental health and seek out a good therapist with the same vigor you’d search for a romantic partner.

Speaking of, be intentional about cultivating friendships that lift you up.

As those friendships grow and change, don’t overlook them while you search for that “great love of your life.”

(No, I’m not suggesting you sleep with your bestie. But you do you!)

Another unhelpful message that we get from society is that we need a “love of our life,” as a romantic partner.

Single and childless when I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer,
I looked around my life and came up sputtering and sobbing from the wave of grief washed over me.

I thought I’d be doing this alone… no husband, no kids, no “great love.”

How wrong I was. At the first appointment with my neuro oncologists, one of the nurses
diligently hauled in chair after chair for the great loves of my life
who came with me that horrible day and many days after that.

I sat and listened while the doctor explained the 12-month treatment plan,
focusing on my breathing, then looked around the room….
filled with great loves of my life: incredible women friends whom I had met at various stages of my life.

Surround yourself with people who contradict that unkind voice,
people who see your light, and remind you who you are: an amazing soul.

Learn how to receive these reflections from your people.

Because they are speaking the Truth.

Love yourself, no matter how weird and silly it might feel.

Every morning, give yourself a hug before your feet hit the floor.

Look deeply into your eyes in a mirror. Say to yourself, out loud, “I trust you.”

That voice in your head might say you’re a dork.

Ignore it.

As I prepare to leave this body and embark on this mysterious journey of my soul,
I hope these observations from my deathbed are somehow useful.

What I know, deep in my bones, is that learning to love myself has led me to be able to say this:
I’m so proud of how I lived.

May you, dear reader, feel the same when you head out on your soul journey, too.

Until then, enjoy the ride.

And always eat dessert first, especially if there’s pie!"

Desiderata - A Life Changing Poem for Hard Times



View: https://youtu.be/CaVaF6TkSUU

Defeat - Kahlil Gibran (A Life Changing Poem for Dark Times)

video



View: https://youtu.be/JE8taOWjVbc

TYPES of intelligence / intel

"According to Psychologists, there are four types of Intelligence:
1) Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
2) Emotional Quotient (EQ)
3) Social Quotient (SQ)
4) Adversity Quotient (AQ)
1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): this is the measure of your level of comprehension. You need IQ to solve maths, memorize things, and recall lessons.
2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): this is the measure of your ability to maintain peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, be honest, respect boundaries, be humble, genuine and considerate.
3. Social Quotient (SQ): this is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time.
People that have higher EQ and SQ tend to go further in life than those with a high IQ but low EQ and SQ. Most schools capitalize on improving IQ levels while EQ and SQ are played down.
A man of high IQ can end up being employed by a man of high EQ and SQ even though he has an average IQ.
Your EQ represents your Character, while your SQ represents your Charisma. Give in to habits that will improve these three Qs, especially your EQ and SQ.
Now there is a 4th one, a new paradigm:
4. The Adversity Quotient (AQ): The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life, and come out of it without losing your mind.
When faced with troubles, AQ determines who will give up, who will abandon their family, and who will consider suicide.
Parents please expose your children to other areas of life than just Academics. They should adore manual labour (never use work as a form of punishment), Sports and Arts.
Develop their IQ, as well as their EQ, SQ and AQ. They should become multifaceted human beings able to do things independently of their parents.
Finally, do not prepare the road for your children. Prepare your children for the road."

The whole world paused this morning.

Do you know why?

Because an 8 year old’s tank was empty.

The boys had already started their school day at their desks
and I was preparing to leave for work when I noticed my littlest standing in the bathroom wiping his face.

I paused at the door and asked if he was okay.

He looked up with tears silently dripping and shook his head.

When I questioned if something happened, again he shook his head.

So I sat on the side of the tub and pulled him in my lap.

I told him sometimes our heart tanks feel empty and need to be refilled.

He cried into my chest and I held tight.

I asked if he could feel my love filling him up?

A nod, and tears stopped...

I waited a minute...

‘Has it reached your toes yet?’

He shook his head no...

‘Okay man.

We will take as long as you need.

Work doesn’t matter right now.

School isn’t important either.

This right here, is the most important
thing today, okay?

Filling you back to the top.

Is that good?’

*nods*

One more minute...

‘Is your heart full of mamas love now?’

‘Yeah...’

*looks in his eyes* ‘I see it shining in there, you’re full to the top, and you’re smiling!’

You may not be 8 - you may be 28, 38, 48 or whatever
- but ALL of us run on empty just like he did.

His week was so busy and so full and his little soul was just dry!

We all have to pause, and take a moment to refill with the good things. prayer, sunshine, laughter, friends, hugs.

Refill your empty, or you’ll find those emotions (tears, anger, snappy words) overflowing with no reason why.

Take a moment.

Refill.

It’s the most important part of your day!