First a little background.
The other day my Mom's friend asked her if she would write a short essay for him to be used in a college class he was taking. His assignment was to get three people to write about their quality of life and then write a much longer paper himself.
The following is her reply. After reading it I sure felt stupid for letting my minor problems get me down and I figured that with all the crap going on right now, especially gas prices and politics, this could good for some other people to read as well.
My answer to a friend who asked: Do I consider the quality of life that I have to be low, medium, or high?
I can think; breathe; walk; see; hear; eat; speak; use my hands; and remember. I know people who can’t do one or more of these things.
I can read! When not being lazy, I can think critically and analytically. I can hold onto an idea and turn it over in my mind—probing it for truth or fallacy—and respond in a socially appropriate manner. I know people who can’t do one or more of these things effectively, and don’t know that they can’t.
I am grateful that in my 54 years of life, I have never had to experience what my father did when he landed on Normandy beach. I am thankful that I never had to experience the addiction that my mother’s family suffered. I have a brother who has chosen to sacrifice his chance for safety and financial stability so that he can serve and protect his family and this country that he loves. I am grateful when he has made it safely through each day this past year, in Iraq. I have an estranged and angry sister who I will meet again someday, with open arms. I have a mother who is more child than parent, and I recognize that she did the best she was able to—and that’s good enough.
When I worked on an ambulance, I was humbled to be the one who was there to pull an innocent baby placed in a vat of boiling water by her schizophrenic mother, out of the water, to hold that child close to my heart and offer it every bit of love in all my being, perhaps the only love that child ever knew, before he died.
I am grateful that I have two loving, smart children who are healthy, happy, and productive members of society. I have been married to the same man for 28 years full of good, hard, enriching, painful, exhilarating and loving moments.
I work every day on ‘other person perspective’ so that I don’t slip into arrogance. I have been lucky enough to make it through some hard times and learn from them, rather than become a victim of them, and of my own failings.
I have a loving family and dear friends. I have a house that has not had to withstand an earthquake. I don’t live in a war zone. I don’t have any dread diseases. I live in a land that, despite its shortcomings, allows me a vote on my preferred form of government. I have a good paying job that offers good medical benefits. I have indoor plumbing. I get to listen to music ever day. I own my own car. I can still afford gasoline. I have the capacity and the ability to make choices.
But most of all: I have love in my life, always. So, you ask about quality of life? I have the highest quality of life. I know it can’t go on indefinitely, and I work hard to remember to savor it, and share it. |
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