On Time, Privilege, and Saying Goodbye
This week I fly to Oklahoma to lay my grandfather to rest. He was 92 years old and lived what I can only describe as an incredible life. Born to poor farmers in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, he lived an incredibly hard life, but he also lived a very impactful and, I think he would say, rewarding life. He opened a restaurant that became a cornerstone of the town, a place where he lived by sayings like, "If you're leaning—you're cleaning." There was always something to do, always something to work on making better.
Losing someone at any age sucks, but I don't feel like I lost him. I feel like I was extremely lucky to grow up with such a wonderful grandpa. I am not sad because I lost my grandpa, but thinking about my grandma, who has been with him since she was 16, instantly brings tears to my eyes. I cannot imagine losing someone you have grown with and created a life with over a period of time most of us would consider ourselves just lucky to be alive.
So why am I writing this? Why am I sharing with you about this extremely personal aspect of my life? Because if you're reading this, or if you're a patient, you are spending time with me—and time—is our most precious and valuable asset.
At the core of who I am, I believe it is an absolute privilege to get to write blogs that you read. If you're a patient, it is an absolute privilege to get to learn about the intricacies of your life and learn who you are. Our time on this earth is limited, and for some reason you have decided—by reading this blog, being a patient, or possibly being a friend that reads these blogs, that the time is valuable enough to spend with me. For that I am extremely grateful.
It's a privilege to get to write about interesting topics with the goal of helping you live a more fulfilling life. If you're a patient, it's a privilege to get to spend time with you, to learn about your life, to get to know you—not just during this busy holiday season, but always. Our time on this earth is limited, and I am extremely grateful that you spend any part of it with me.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and no matter what you celebrate or don't celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.