It’s unanimous.  The same answers, every time.  With different words, but the meaning remains the same. So simple, but yet somehow not so obvious.  Until you put yourself in the shoes of the wise little old lady surrounded by family, eyes filled with life, but with a sparkle of fear or a confident and calm intuition, if you will, that something else is coming.  Something frightening, yet relieving at the same time.  A surrender to everything we hold on to so tightly.

I’ve come to realize that I’m not the only one who is curious.  Curious and keen to grasp onto any words of wisdom from these shining patients.  Or from those who lack the shine, yet are desperate to pass on their lessons learned.  That someone else may have the chance to live out what they deep down really wanted to do, yet never had the chance or the courage to reach after.  The answers to the same questions that friends and colleagues tend to ask: “What are your words of advice?  If you could do it again, what would you do different?”.  And unanimously, this is what you hear (bright, genuine smiles and shining eyes guaranteed):

1.  Work less

2.  Travel and play more

3.  Spend more time with family and loved ones

So simple when you think of it, isn’t it?  I think my journal sums this up pretty darn good.

Smile with your heart!