These two women, both early to mid 40s, have been told that they don't have long to live. One of them chose to quit drinking and live what's left of her life to the fullest extent. The other chose to keep drinking and live what's left of her life on her own terms, as well.
The one who stopped drinking has kids and grandkids and according to her social media, spends time with her family and going on trips and outings. The one who continued to drink is pretty isolated. She has no family left that will speak to her, just friends that have become like family - though they are few and far between.
The one who stopped drinking has kids and grandkids and according to her social media, spends time with her family and going on trips and outings. The one who continued to drink is pretty isolated. She has no family left that will speak to her, just friends that have become like family - though they are few and far between.
Though these two women with the same disease have approached life in a completely opposite manner another thing that they both have in common is that they are both openly proud of their material possessions. One boasted about having a house and two cars, while the other boasted about having a house with a pool. Like, they both felt it was important for people to know that they feel like they had materially "made it" somehow.
It struck me as odd.
While I don't know the financial details of the lady who stopped drinking I really can't imagine that the job she holds has allowed her to purchase all of that on her own. I know for a fact that the person who chose to keep drinking has a roommate who pays most of the bills of the place they rent. But they are both proud of "their" achievements.
My husbang and I sacrificed a lot to claw our way up out of poverty to lower middle class; HOWEVER, his father passed away and left us the family home. Since we wanted out of Alabama we sold both my husbang's home as well as his family home and left. We took that money and bought our house. And while I am very comfortable here and I love our home I feel that I can't even take credit for all of it because without his father's home to sell we would not be here. Not yet, at least. So someone else paying my way doesn't feel like my own success or anything that I should be proud of.
Another thing that struck me is that when faced with the upcoming end of their lives that material possessions are even on their radar. Yes - you need to make sure things are in order, but my gosh I'd be more concerned with the time spent with loved ones or repairing relationships and saying the things I need to say or checking things off of my bucket list. Maybe when my time comes I'll feel differently, but I just can't see myself going on social media like "I have this and this and this material thing."
It comes off strange to me. I know that America is super materialistic and even though I've lived here my whole life it's still a bit gross to me how much we compete with one another. In my brain when I think of being faced with my own mortality I think of righting wrongs and making sure that my survivors will be ok. Those are my priorities. I can't really fathom wanting people to know about my possessions as something being worthy of sharing at that stage in my life. It's like "I want to be remembered for having a house with a pool." Makes no sense to me.
Anyway. This was just something that was kicking around in my head. It may or may not make sense to anyone else, but there it is. Something to think about.
My husbang and I sacrificed a lot to claw our way up out of poverty to lower middle class; HOWEVER, his father passed away and left us the family home. Since we wanted out of Alabama we sold both my husbang's home as well as his family home and left. We took that money and bought our house. And while I am very comfortable here and I love our home I feel that I can't even take credit for all of it because without his father's home to sell we would not be here. Not yet, at least. So someone else paying my way doesn't feel like my own success or anything that I should be proud of.
Another thing that struck me is that when faced with the upcoming end of their lives that material possessions are even on their radar. Yes - you need to make sure things are in order, but my gosh I'd be more concerned with the time spent with loved ones or repairing relationships and saying the things I need to say or checking things off of my bucket list. Maybe when my time comes I'll feel differently, but I just can't see myself going on social media like "I have this and this and this material thing."
It comes off strange to me. I know that America is super materialistic and even though I've lived here my whole life it's still a bit gross to me how much we compete with one another. In my brain when I think of being faced with my own mortality I think of righting wrongs and making sure that my survivors will be ok. Those are my priorities. I can't really fathom wanting people to know about my possessions as something being worthy of sharing at that stage in my life. It's like "I want to be remembered for having a house with a pool." Makes no sense to me.
Anyway. This was just something that was kicking around in my head. It may or may not make sense to anyone else, but there it is. Something to think about.
