Dockam and Kaliber have been posting on their efforts to seize and savor life. Upon receiving my diagnosis I determined to try and make the best of my situation, and to revel in what life I had left. Towards that end I engaged even more with family and friends, bought a travel trailer and hit the road, and participated in everything I felt able to do, even things that I previously would have opted out of.
Since then I have hiked up and down the Oregon and SW Washington coasts, hiked along the Deschutes river, zip lined, white water tubed, danced, sang karaoke, attended art exhibits, mini biked, bicycled, played bball, beer pong and tons of video games, and so on. I experienced significant QOL boosts from these choices.
However, I have also found that smaller scale choices also enhance my QOL. Shortly afterward hearing the C word, I ran across a reference to The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. The article I read suggested looking for delights throughout the day, and consciously attending to whatever it was that brought delight. I began looking for delights on my daily walks, and snapping pics to help remind me of the delights I experienced. I now have a photo album on my computer of these delights. Below and in the reply below are just a few examples:
“I also learned this year that my delight grows—much like love and joy—when I share it.”
“I came up with a handful of rules: write a delight every day for a year; begin and end on my birthday, August 1; draft them quickly; and write them by hand. The rules made it a discipline for me. A practice. Spend time thinking and writing about delight every day.”
― Ross Gay, The Book of Delights: Essays
Written by
Carlosbach
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Thanks. My grandson and I built the little trailer for overnight fishing trips. I was tired of sleeping on the ground and I wanted him to get the experience of building something with his hands. Doesn't get much use since I bought a larger one for camping trips, but has enormous sentimental value.
yes yes brother Carlosbach … great post and even better attitude. Great QOL related posts , like yours , are uplifting for the rest of us and brighten up the otherwise naturally kinda techy … rather gloomy nature of a terminal cancer group.
I like it that you , like the Doc, are able to walk and run properly, and relate in that respect …. It allows us with very limited mobility to live somewhat vicariously thru your QOL exploits . Yayahahahaya nice photos too.
Thanks Special K. I've loved the Doc's and your QOL posts. Fits with my approach to this damn disease. Thank you.
My intent was to show that there are little QOL boosters all around us if we attend to them. Right now I'm sitting in my easy chair looking out as the fog slowly lifts and reveals autumn happening right in front of my eyes. Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillars on the deck, dew on the grass, leaves turning, grass starting to regain a green color, etc. Inspired my wife to go bake some apples and fill the house with a sweet apple and cinnamon smell. It is a good morning!
Sounds like a plan. I'd love to explore the trails in the high desert with someone who knows the area. I'm currently dogless, racoons killed my Jack Russell, so I look forward to meeting Mateo.
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