What if you had only one year to live?

[Wayne in Maine]

What would you do if you had only one year left to live?

What would you change in your life (if anything)?

What spiritual practices would you change?

Would you change anything in your relationships to friends and family?

How would you want to spend your time?

Would you expect God to perform a miracle to change that?

What do you think you would need and want from your family and friends?

How else would you prepare for the inevitable?

What else?

[Robert]

I would not plant a garden.

I would enjoy family try to leave as many good memories as I could.

[Szdfan]

I would keep a journal and try to process through any unresolved issues I might have. I would also use it to try to work through how I was feeling about the inevitable. Maybe a therapist would also be helpful.

I would spend as much time with family and loved ones as possible.

I would try to knock off a few of my “bucket list” activities abs places to visit.

I would try to do the things I love and go to the places I love.

I would be as intentional as I could with the remaining time I had.

I would read books and listen to music. I’d watch movies I loved, but avoid mindless, time-suck TV.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with hoping for a miracle, unless it becomes a form of denial and refusing to accept what is happening. I’ve heard horror stories of painful and traumatic deaths because people couldn’t let their loved ones go and were praying for deathbed miracles.

I think I would try to figure out what it meant to me to die well.

[MaxPC]

I would definitely seek to set my relationship with God as the top priority: e.g. prayer, Bible reading and the Sacraments.
Spend time with family and friends.
Make apologies and amends to those with whom the relationship suffered.

Of course at my age I have already set about doing those things because I'll be 88 soon.

[RZehr]

I would write a personal letter of blessing and warning to my children and descendants for them to have.

[Sudsy]

What would you do if you had only one year left to live?

What would you change in your life (if anything)?

What spiritual practices would you change?

Would you change anything in your relationships to friends and family?

How would you want to spend your time?

Would you expect God to perform a miracle to change that?

What do you think you would need and want from your family and friends?

How else would you prepare for the inevitable?

What else?

This is hard question to answer for me as I haven't been in the shoes of those who have/are. My sister was told she had less than a year and it seems to me she mainly carried on with little change in her lifestyle. What I did notice (and we were not frequently together) was that she worked hard at making the transition for those left behind as smooth as possible. Everything had instructions to cover all the things involved. My wife has already documented steps in detail for me should she go first.

Regarding how I would change my way of living, I think I would be much more aware of how I treated others and how much time I spent with the Lord. Even though, my next breath could very well be my last one, if a doctor gave me an estimated date of 'going home, ìt shouldn't but likely would govern to some degree how I live.

Firstly, my guess is I would spend less time on a forum like this as my perspective on what really matters in light of eternity would change. I think I would be more focused on what has eternal value. I think I would be more thankful and express it more. I believe I would be at peace with whatever happens as life really is a fleeting vapor and although I have some reasons to stay and see certain things unfold to be with Christ in my next conscious moment is so much more.

My guess is that I would be more bold and compassionate in sharing my faith and impressing on others the things that really matter are eternal. I still live too much concerned with the temporal that will all pass away.

I wouldn't want to hold unto any unforgiving and unloving attitudes towards anyone. Basically focus on allowing the Holy Spirit develop the fruit of the Spirit in my life. Be a real blessing to others.

Regarding spiritual practices, mainly walking closer to the Lord and seeking His guidance.

I guess most of this is how I should live now, moment by moment, but I do fall short when I don't keep an eternal perspective on things.

Thankyou for making me stop and think about these things and hoping that you will experience God's love, peace and joy through whatever is to come. 'This world is not my home, I'm just a passin through.'

[steve-in-kville]

Very good thread topic, which I will answer after some thought.

Some years ago I was challenged to write my own obituary. That was humbling, for sure.

[Ken]

I would spend most of my time and energy making sure that my wife and children are ready and prepared to continue in my absence. And seek ways to spend quality time with them for the time that I did have left.

[temporal1]

i was raised by parents who valued life, and had suffered sad losses of loved ones in (what we like to believe) premature death. they lived before many vaccines we take for granted were available. polio, and others. they lived in gratitude and did not take life for granted. (i believe) this was common, not exceptional.

“living each day as though it were your last,” was a common thought, as were thoughts of living in ways that loved ones knew they were loved, not in words, but in actions. the word, “love” was so highly regarded, it was not frequently used in my home growing up. my parents did not want its sacred value to be diminished by overuse, they tended to be mistrusting of those who used the word freely. (i respect their stoic ways, but, as parents, we were not so strict that way with our children.)

Wayne, i don’t think there’s much to add to your words in another thread:

The cancer has spread to multiple organs in my body. It is inoperable and the plan is palliative care - there is no cure. I start chemotherapy next week to slow the spread. I have a year to live, possibly two. The good news is that none of my major organs are damaged at this point and we might be able to stay ahead of that. The doctor says that the cancer will eventually take up all my energy and I will just waste away.

We know that God can be honored by this, either through a miraculous healing (which would be fine by me!)
or by the testimony of our faith and endurance through the strength that He gives.

I do not plan to spend 12 months dying, rather I plan to spend 12 months living.

We are thankful to be given this time as we have friends who were suddenly widowed with no warning and who faced their future completely unprepared.

I am blessed with a devoted, loving wife (we will celebrate our 44th anniversary in June) and family;
we will make a few more memories and get prepared for my leaving them behind.

Continue to remember me occasionally when you pray.

i believe in prayers and miracles. they happen. i’ve witnessed some in my real life, i’ve read about some here.
let your family love you and care for you. there may be some unexpected role reversal, let it be. God allows it, and blesses it.

i had a “brush” with a dire, possibly terminal illness about 10 years ago.
my thought processes were much like others are describing here. i had major surgery, and was cleared of the scare.

there are no rules.
if that bridge comes again, i’ll cross it. it may be another bridge.
as you say, not everyone is given time to prepare and say good bye. time is a gift.
we all have to deal with God’s will, with His timing.

i believe in prayer. i believe in miracles. i believe many fervent heartfelt prayers are being said for you.
take each day as it comes. be grateful for it. as you say, LIVE IT. LIVE THAT ONE DAY. and keep going as God wills.

follow doctors’ orders, but forget about what they say. as you say, LIVE. LIVE, anyway.

for your family as much as for you, i pray you have years of “one day at a time” with them yet to come.

[steve-in-kville]

What would you do if you had only one year left to live?

What would you change in your life (if anything)?

What spiritual practices would you change?

Would you change anything in your relationships to friends and family?

How would you want to spend your time?

Would you expect God to perform a miracle to change that?

What do you think you would need and want from your family and friends?

How else would you prepare for the inevitable?

What else?

At the top of my list I would draw as close to my children as possible, especially my oldest who are now young adults. Spiritually, I can't see much changing there. I think I would quit my job, finish my book and concentrate on helping other families that struggle with the realities of life. I want to see others have resources to help with the same things we went through.

I'm not leaving this Earth quietly.