“Tomorrow is not promised.”

It appears that Walter Payton and Kirby Puckett along with many others understood this age old saying. It’s never pleasant to talk about something that has happened since the dawn of man and I do realize that everyone sees this topic in a different light due to life circumstances, education, exposure, and experience with it. 

Yes, I am talking about the dreaded D-Word: Death. In my mind, I’ve replaced it with another D-Word that isn’t so unpleasant and that is Departed. That said, I’d like to share with those who read this my perspective on this event with the hope that it might help someone else; even if it’s just one person. 

In my life, I’ve experienced this situation a few times. The very first time I did was my brother who was much older than I was but I didn’t expect him to depart so soon. I was still in High School when he Departed. It was a shock to the system for sure and it helped shift my paradigm on how I view it to this very day. The second departure was my dad. I was serving in the United States Navy and received the news. Then came my mom nearly 4 years ago to the day that we laid her to rest. She was a youthful 82 years and an amazing women. So, I’ve come to understand that “Tomorrow is not promised.”

I come from a large family (8 Children) and I am the youngest of them all. August 13th, my middle brother Danny was rushed to the hospital with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) which is the same condition that led to my mother’s departure and after a month on life support, last night Sep 13th at 1:00 AM, he too has now departed. If you are still breathing, I beg of you - get a LIVING WILL so that your family doesn’t have to ensure what my family did with my brother. In addition, he didn’t have a will. Just as Prince or Bob Marley - creating a Will isn’t a hard thing to do but it alludes many of us. 

I wished I could say that was the end but it appears that my oldest brother was also in the hospital for Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB). I visited him yesterday and while he was released and was able to return home, the road ahead for him will be challenging to say the least. Since my initial writing, Mark is doing much better. That said - it should be understood that he too will follow the same path as the others.

Now many will say OMG so sorry to hear this bad news and yes this is very undesirable and unpleasant to say the least. However, over the years I’ve come to expect that my loved ones will depart this world; many before me and many after me. As the old saying goes “no one gets out of this alive.” This is so true and have happened since Adam and Eve; if you believe in the Bible. While I am not excited about these turn of events, it doesn’t shock or surprise me. I have a good amount of peace with this. Why? 

I’ve learned to manage my expectations and to treat everyone in my circle of influence with respect and to maintain my relationships in such a way that if I never see that person again, I shared with them what I desired, lived on good terms with them, and provided for them as best I could. There are many lessons in life from this that I will conclude with: 

1. Live a Life of Love. Be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, and honor, serve, and forgive often. Believe the best and avoid assuming the worst in others. 

2. Maintain your health. There could be a genetic disposition to CHF in my family but I will do all that I can do to avoid it by being a student of my body. Healthy eating (yes I love my McDonalds), exercise, reduce stress as much as possible, and testing my body regularly are key for me. Get your annual physical, review the results with your medical professionals. Use health tech (iWatch, iPhone, Oura Ring, etc.) Technology and medicine has advanced in ways we can’t imagine but we have to leverage it for ourselves. 

3. Prepare to Depart. Listen folks, if you think you won’t depart, you are kidding yourself. One day you too will depart this world so please please please prepare for it! I believe everyone should have 1. Last Will and Testament. 2. Living Will. 3. Power of Attorney. If you depart without #1 the state will inherit all of your assets. If you depart without #2 your family will be burden with what to do with you in complicated situations. In the case of #3 it’s very complex and TRUST is the key factor in what you choose. 

I am sure I can come up with more but if most would do these they are way ahead of the curve compared to others. Again I realize not everyone see things the way I do but if any of this resonated with you and you want to chat about it, shoot me a text and I am open to helping as much as I can: 214-868-1608.