Life

There is an Eastern proverb that I will paraphrase:

When we are young, we are willing to sacrifice so much of our health in pursuit of wealth.
As we become old and wise, we become willing to sacrifice all of our wealth for just one day of good health.

Two years ago, I was blessed to be able to participate as a donor in a stem cell transplant with my Mother, who was suffering from leukemia. Her strength and on-going sense of care and generosity for others following during process was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Her health has deteriorated rapidly over the last few months. This reality is understandably difficult to accept.

We spend so much of our time worrying about trivial events and our own happiness. The truth, which I believe my Mother has exemplified her entire life, is that happiness comes from devoting our lives to helping others. We need to focus as Rees would say (as in the Ecological Footprint, Rees) on a personal, "economy of enoughness." What a wonderful world it would be if we focussed on giving more of ourselves to others.