Following the recent loss of US Senator John McCain, there has been a great amount of media coverage about his life and legacy. Regardless of politics and personal opinion of the man, there is something he said that I think we all can appreciate and respect. It is a brief statement McCain made in response to a question about his terminal brain cancer. After saying that he and his family were going to find the best doctors and do the best they could, McCain added:
“…and, at the same time, celebrate with gratitude a life well lived.”
Again, no matter your opinion of Senator McCain and his life and legacy, his own resolution to celebrate and be grateful for the time he had is something worthy of respect and admiration.
Obviously we all form our own opinions of others and how they choose to live their lives. But what is of far greater importance is how we are living our own lives! My colleague JohnMatthew Douglaseloquently put it this way:
“‘A life well lived.’ Longevity has its place—we all want to live a very long life. However, it is how well one has lived that is ultimately the truest representation of a good life!”
JohnMatthew went on to note how Senator McCain’s life is a remarkable example of “how far one can go and grow from the seemingly insurmountable and impossible of the harshest of circumstances. And he did so with dignity and honor. What a leader he was! Many of us should learn by his example.”
We all lead different lives and face unique challenges. How you choose to play the cards you are dealt and how you choose to conduct yourself daily in speech, attitude, and actions eventually adds up to the sum of your whole life.
Are you living your life well? When you near the end of your life, will you be able to look back and “celebrate with gratitude a life well lived?” I sincerely hope so! Make it your goal to live every day of your life well—whatever that looks like for you. I wish to each of you a long life, but I guarantee, a short life lived well is far, far more valuable than a long life lived poorly!
