A man awoke one morning with a sick feeling in the bottom of his stomach. You know, the kind of feeling that something dreadful is about to happen? Life for this man, was what most would call ideal. He had a job, that paid enough for him to survive. He had a wife, that he loved, but they had grown apart, the spark itself was gone, but he did love her, and she loved him. He had a son, who was growing up quite nicely, albeit a little misbehaving. Yes life for this man was ok. He awoke every morning at half past six to get ready for the day. Got off work at half past five, and was home by six, to enjoy a quiet evening with his family. A routine that he had grown accustomed to. This morning however, things felt different.
The life he had grown so used to, now began to eat away at him, began to tear him apart on the inside. The things that he had grown so accustomed to, he had now begun to dread. This morning, it manifested as a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. He stood, walked across the room, took his suit out of the closet and laid it on the bed. Went into the bathroom and began to shave. As he drew the razor down his neck, he contemplated the thought of pressing too hard. Of ending his life just then. It was at this moment that he knew something had to change. The man, still dressed in his pajamas, got into his car, and drove to his church.
After a few moments of entering the church, he was of course, accosted by one of the many nuns. “May I see the priest?” was all he could say. The nuns took one look at the man, who was visibly shaken, and still in his pajamas, and nodded as one went to fetch the priest, and the other fetched the man a bit of bread and water.
After what seemed like an eternity in his own thoughts, alo...
... middle of paper ...
... life you wanted, and you saw that even it ended in sadness. Now I ask you, of the two lives, which did you prefer?” Almost without a hesitation the man responded, “The second, my father.” “Why?” “Well…” he thought on it for a brief while as they walked silently. “I was happy. I followed my dreams. I did not settle for what I did not want, just because I was content. I gave my love utterly to my wife, and she gave it in return. Never once, did I look back on my life and ask, what would happened had I chosen a different path. Instead of worrying about what might have happened, I felt happy. I felt love. I felt joy. I felt the warmth of being loved. I gave my life, totally, to the woman I loved, and she gave me hers in return. And when all was said and done, I felt my way through life, felt the choices I made, and felt love.” “Very good.” was all that came in the reply
The reader have probably wondered how different the life would be, if one day one could have followed his desires? If spontaneously, leaving his routine life behind one could have finally discovered a long awaited feeling of delight?!
Later the poor and inculpable man came outside to throw the garbage. The clear night and few stars in the west and the steady, light traffic on EL Camino made him to see the life and the question in another perspective. He though about the old days and though about the future. Eventually he found how precious his wife to him and he loves his wife so much. He feel that he argue with her and make her unhappy. He feel regret, so he changed his mind. A man who loves his wife really much would so something like him.
I was awoken by an unpleasant sound. Little Susan was arise and shine early to go get some crops. We both did our daily routine of praying for our parents are in good health in heaven. I walked out with full of glee on my face to see a gourmet breakfast. Seeing dried fruits and vegetables come in season were my favorite. On the other hand, had some news Susan might not be happy about.
Seventeen years ago, I came bounding into a world of love and laughter. I was the first child, the first grandchild, the first niece, and the primary focus of my entire extended family. Although they were not married, my parents were young and energetic and had every good intention for their new baby girl. I grew up with opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth, secure in the knowledge that I was loved, free from fear, and confident that my world was close to perfect. And I was the center of a world that had meaning only in terms of its effect on me-- what I could see from a height of three feet and what I could comprehend with the intellect and emotions of a child. This state of innocence persisted through my early teens, but changed dramatically in the spring of my sophomore year of high school. My beloved father was dying of AIDS.
Everything is perfectly fine, everything is great, then one day it all comes crashing down and shattered pieces are left. My life would never be the same but I guess change is for the best and it forced me to become the person I am today. It’s rough to be the oldest child, especially when your mom is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and you have 3 younger sisters that look to you for comfort when their mom can’t be there. When the cancer is spread throughout your moms body doctors can’t just get rid of it no matter how badly you wish they could. Rounds of chemotherapy only slow it down, yet it’s still there a lurking monster waiting to reappear at any given moment. Nothing can even begin to describe the fear I felt, and still have to deal with today, but something happened where I could be there for others. What would Sheridan think, or what would 8 year old Lane think if they saw me cry? I had to be Strong not only for me, but for my other family members.
Getting ready to walk into Anna’s hospice room, my anxiety level was escalating. Saying a quick prayer, I asked God to help me find the right words to comfort Anna and her family. Upon knocking on her door, a young lady in her middle 20’s answered the door. Opening the door for me, she informed me Anna was her grandmother and she would like me just to sit with her and that she would return after work. And she left. No get to know you introduction here, very formal, matter of fact, serious kind of girl. No one was going to invade her space. Oh well, I thought, I’m here to help Anna, hopefully Julie will open up later.
Solomon was rapidly driving down the road on a dark, wet day. He was visibly angry and wore a scowl on his face, teeth clenched and eyes narrowed. Solomon heard an important message on his phone, so he reached behind his seat to grab it. While he was distracted, his truck slammed into a large pool of water in the road and hydroplaned into a metal guardrail. His truck smashed the guardrail and flipped twice before careening down a steep, muddy hill. Solomon closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh, almost as if life had stopped for an instant. He briefly pondered over what had lead up to this event and how afraid he was of dying prematurely. This event is important because it illustrates an important message for many people, you never know
His mother screamed constantly, shaming him to that of nothing but guilt of being alive. It was a common ritual in his OLD household. Then tonight, with the quick flick of a wrist and the glisten of rose red, the shaming ended. The guilt stopped. Then with two more quick and swift movements he finished off what was left to remind him of his past. What would have been witnesses were nothing more than cold and bludgeoned heaps.
The poem His stillness by Sharon Olds gave her a definite understanding of the man that she called “father.” Olds grew up in an abusive family home because her dad was always known as an alcoholic. Because of her dad’s habit, created hard living environments for her and she wished that her parents never got married. Whenever liquor was in her dad’s system, he was unemotional making life for Olds hard. She never described the things that he did to her. The visit to the doctor’s office made her opened up to her dad. She saw her dad as lovely and caring family man and she never imagine him being the man that he was at the doctor’s office. He did not overreacted when he heard news; instead he was calm and accepted the news. She felt tremendously sad for her dad and from there now she started noticing the man she never knew. Olds and her dad bond grew stronger at the doctor’s office. The man she had always known for his abusive behavior turned out the most caring man in the world.
I am a blessed girl who has had to overcome minimal obstacles throughout my life. Raised in a stable family with two loving parents that instilled morals and faith in my brother and I to last a lifetime. I grew up in a normal suburb neighborhood, playing backyard football games with the kids next door, and going to church every Sunday morning was a given. Dr. Seuss said “life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who do not and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.” This paper will be about the ways God is working in my life, his
At last I arrived, unmolested except for the rain, at the hefty decaying doors of the church. I pushed the door and it obediently opened, then I slid inside closing it surreptitiously behind me. No point in alerting others to my presence. As I turned my shoulder, my gaze was held by the magnificence of the architecture. It never fails to move me. My eyes begin by looking at the ceiling, and then they roam from side to side and finally along the walls drinking in the beauty of the stained glass windows which glowed in the candle light, finally coming to rest on the altar. I slipped into the nearest pew with the intention of saying a few prayers when I noticed him. His eyes were fixated upon me. I stared at the floor, but it was too late, because I was already aware that he wasn’t one of the priests, his clothes were all wrong and his face! It seemed lifeless. I felt so heavy. My eyes didn’t want to obey me. Neither did my legs. Too late I realised the danger! Mesmerised, I fell asleep.
It was a Saturday in Ohio. My stepmom's family was upstairs watching the Ohio State vs. Michigan game while I sat in the basement doing homework, mulling over something I couldn't quite place. Today felt different, but I couldn't put my finger on why. Sure, we were in Ohio with people I hardly see in a place I barely know, but it didn't feel like it was due to a different environment. Instead, it felt like something inside me changed as if there was a switch that flipped and altered something important. After a couple of hours in that basement, it hit me- I didn't feel depressed. I didn't feel anxious. I didn't feel depressed or anxious! For the first time in years, I didn’t feel bound to the illnesses that always kept me tied down. I felt
This short story revolves around a young boy's struggle to affirm and rationalize the death and insanity of an important figure in his life. The narrator arrives home to find that Father James Flynn, a confidant and informal educator of his, has just passed away, which is no surprise, for he had been paralyzed from a stroke for some time. Mr. Cotter, a friend of the family, and his uncle have much to say about the poor old priest and the narrator's relationship with him. The narrator is angered by their belief that he's not able, at his young age, to make his own decisions as to his acquaintances and he should "run about and play with young lads of his own age ..." That night, images of death haunt him; he attempts make light of the tormenting face of the deceased priest by "smiling feebly" in hopes of negating his dreadful visions. The following evening, his family visits the house of the old priest and his two caretakers, two sisters, where he lies in wake. There the narrator must try and rationalize his death and the mystery of his preceding insanity.
My stomach weakens with a thought that something is wrong, what would be the answer I could have never been ready for. I call my best friend late one night, for some reason she is the only person’s voice I wanted to hear, the only person who I wanted to tell me that everything will be okay. She answer’s the phone and tells me she loves me, as I hear the tears leak through, I ask her what is wrong. The flood gates open with only the horrid words “I can’t do this anymore”. My heart races as I tell her that I am on my way, what I was about to see will never leave my thoughts.
Three small words can bring inner happiness to me and others. Having the ability to change your attitude towards life and what defines one will create a feeling of peace. Living your life can bring good and bad regrets, but by the choice we make can bring happiness, and a meaningful life. The goal of this essay is to show what credo I live by and what defines me as a person. Having the power to live with the choices I had made, determination towards a goal, and finding a deeper meaning to life.