Make the most of life

I was rummaging through my e-mail inbox when I saw this headline in a marketing e-mail from one of my banks. Intrigued, I clicked on the link and started reading the first few lines.

I had imagined an article just for me about how perseverance and inspiration could take you places and enrich your life. But alas, this article was all about saving extra for your pension.

You may not know this about me, but I have always been saving for my future retirement. I still have IRA’s (not the Irish Republican Army! but Independent Retirement Accounts) from when I first started working in the US, back in the late 90’s of the previous century.

Even after my cancer diagnosis- knowing I would never recover – I still saved for retirement when I started working again. At the time it seemed futile, because I was sure I would not make it to my retirement. Still, I saved and worked as if I weren’t ill.

In the back of my mind I’ve always wondered, what should I do with my time and money? If I stopped working, I could spend my time writing or reading. But we would soon run out of money. But if I keep working, I might have enough money to retire but I might not live that long.

It’s a funny business when you’re not feeling sick but know that at any moment, it could all be over. If the medication stops working, the next line of treatment will be chemo. Not all chemo’s make one feel sick, but it’s a different type of treatment, with more frequent trips to the hospital and the uncertainty if it will work.

I’ve been so incredibly lucky with my medication which works so well to keep the cancer at bay. It’s been over 11 years and 6 months since the initial diagnosis and I’m still here.

When it comes to making the most of life, I probably know exactly what that means.

To me, it means making the best of my abilities, contributing my skills where they are needed, and connecting with people I meet. It means spending time with my loved ones and friends. Writing what I experience and wish to share. And taking that trip with Victor now instead of waiting for a time which may not come.