What will your last blog post say?
When it’s all said and done, when you’ve breathed your last, what will your readers remember? What would you want to tell them?
Recently, Dorian (you may know her as Coffeesister) sent a StumbleUpon link to Punk Rock Mommy’s final blog post. I don’t recommend reading that post without a handy kleenex. Heck, you might need a whole box.
Here’s a woman who lived her life, right to the end, interacting with her readers. She talked about cancer, about parenting, about family, about life, and about her own story. Her journey, if you will.
Now, I can’t say I’d heard of Punk Rock Mommy before today. But she’s made an impact on me, days after her passing.
Anyways, it got me asking lots of questions: how will I be remembered? What would my last blog post say? Do I connect with my readers in the way that Punk Rock Mommy connected with hers? I try, like she did, to share my triumphs and my failures, my good luck and my rotten fortune, my progress and my regress, my life and, one day, my death.
I know my struggles aren’t nearly as serious as Punk Rock Mommy’s. I don’t mean to suggest that my struggles as a freelancer are anything like struggles with cancer. But I do think i can be the student, here. I think I can learn something from Punk Rock Mommy, something about life, about love, about struggle. Here are some of her parting words (emphasis mine):
I learned a lot over the year that I battled this dreaded disease. I learned that it is not in our best interest to hold out expectations to God. He is not Santa Clause. He does what is right and good. This was my path. My journey in this world was difficult and painful but important in my spiritual growth. I learned that we have to be happy despite our circumstances. We can’t say I will be happy when…. No sweeties be happy now because today is all you have.
I learned that all the small stuff is very small and not worth your time and attention. Gossip and resentments,worrying about things that never happen, fearing the unknown. Let it go my lovelies, breath and just be good to each other. I realized not long after my diagnosis that life is too short to spend it hurting people and holding onto the anger we have for those around us. I am no doormat, but I just let go of all that hard core resentment. God forgives us through the blood of His Son. He forgives those who hurt us as well.
My final advice wouldn’t be that different, I suppose. I think Punk Rock Mommy pretty much hit it on the head. I think I’d say something like this:
Be happy now, my dear friends. Today is all we have. Be good to one another. Take comfort in whatever spirituality you are so inclined (or not), and learn to be happy despite your circumstances. Follow your path; pursue your dreams. Work hard, love your family be generous and forgiving. Do it today, while you still have the flicker of life, for one day your own candle will dim.
So, what about you? What will your final blog post say?
(Take a moment, as time allows, to visit Punk Rock Mommy. If you’re so inclined, you can donate something to help out the family. Donations will be divided between a trust for the kids, summer fun for the kids and child care.)
photo credit: jdl_deleon
18 comments ↓
I was an occasional reader of Punk Rock Mommy and her death took my breath away, coming on the heels of the passing of a high school friend. Death is difficult, when it strikes at any age, but particularly so when the person has not had a chance to really live.
Her last blog post was truly profound and made me think, as well. Am I really enjoying life while I can? Am I leaving anyone I care about with questions about our relationship? I have a lot of things that I need to change today, because none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
I think my final post would remind my friends to stop taking tomorrow for granted. Leave those you love with nothing to question and find the joy in everything you do, no matter how mundane.
Shannan Ps last blog post..I finally did it!
Ouch. Not even going to touch this one, but I’m glad you wrote it.
I am also glad you wrote it. Since last year the motto of my life has become “Enjoy this day, you don’t know if it is your last one.”
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Yellow Rose – The Symbol of friendship
Thank you for sharing that, Bob. I hadn’t come across PRM before.
I had to do my own spiritual inventory when my mom passed away from lung cancer a few years ago, and the insights and experiences from all that continue to color every aspect of my life. That includes my blogging and writing.
Sometimes it shows in what I say, but I’m noticing more lately, it’s apparent in my silences–the fights I choose not to pick, the opportunities I choose to let pass because the cost is too high.
KatFrenchs last blog post..Wrestling with the Soul of Work, and Stories under the Surface
Wow.
It is truly amazing how every time I get too wrapped up in myself and all the silly details of life, I’m always faced with someone or something that hustles me right back to reality – and to what really matters.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this.
I can’t help but crack a dark smile knowing that below each one of our comments here, it displays our “last post”.
Okay that’s just creepy, Michael!
@ All – thanks for your heartfelt comments. I’m still amazed at this woman and her approach to life, and to death.
@ Michael – OK, yeah. Creepy, like James said. But thank you for making me smile.
I think you’re onto something, my friend. We’ll all have a last post one day. I just hope mine isn’t today!
Bob, thank you for writing this post. Far too often we put off living arrogantly believing life will be there when we are ready to savor it. Loving and caring for someone who is dying blesses you with the ability to savor every second and realize that though they are diagnosed, your moments are also not promised. We have today, it’s here but what are we doing with it? Are we wasting it with mundane complaints and petty annoyances? Are we talking about living rather than actually engaging in life?
Dang, Martine, you are one macabre mofo.
This is a good post for me to read. I get way too hung up in trivia & hurtfeelingathons. Time to let that junk go.
Sonia Simones last blog post..How to Get Your Employees to Sink Your Business
My last post: embrace all of who you are.
Evans last blog post..Staying Angry
Bob, what a beautiful way to share this inspiring post.
As for my last post, I think I’d just remind people to fall in love with themselves before they fall in love or become involved with others — on any level.
I think most problems in relationships (hence, the world at large) begin because so many of us don’t like ourselves all that much. We can be very critical, jealous and downright hurtful — to ourselves.
Eg, “I’m too fat, “I hate my job (then why do you stay),” “No one will ever want to be with me because (fill in the blank),” etc.
It’s this type of negativity that we carry into every relationship in our lives. On a small scale, it can lead to self-hatred, depression and low self-esteem.
On a large scale, it can be the cause of wars, genocide and other inhumane “crimes.”
Self love — the greatest love of all. It frees you to love others, choose that which makes you happy, turn away that which causes you unhappiness, stay stress free, etc.
That would be my message.
Yuwanda
Bob, what a beautiful way to share this inspiring post.
As for my last post, I think I’d just remind people to fall in love with themselves before they fall in love or become involved with others — on any level.
I think most problems in relationships (hence, the world at large) begin because so many of us don’t like ourselves all that much. We can be very critical, jealous and downright hurtful — to ourselves.
Eg, “I’m too fat, “I hate my job (then why do you stay),” “No one will ever want to be with me because (fill in the blank),” etc.
It’s this type of negativity that we carry into every relationship in our lives. On a small scale, it can lead to self-hatred, depression and low self-esteem.
On a large scale, it can be the cause of wars, genocide and other inhumane “crimes.”
Self love — the greatest love of all. It frees you to love others, choose that which makes you happy, turn away that which causes you unhappiness, stay stress free, etc.
That would be my message.
Yuwanda
P.S.: Sorry for the double post. I’m tired and need to just go to bed!
Yuwanda Blacks last blog post..How to Stretch Free Articles into Dollars
I never saw Punk Rock Mom’s blog before this, but I must say you got me thinking too. “If I tied today, what would my readers see (until my domain expired, too!)?
Thanks for a great post
Alex the Freelance Twins last blog post..Making money with current events
Right now, I am inclined to say this:
Why put off till ’some day’ the countless opportunities that present themselves today to enjoy life fully and freely!
But in addition to that, I am also reminded of the words of Carlos Castaneda:
The wise man acts as if everything matters but knows that nothing does. In fact, I wrote a post about this just yesterday!
Warm wishes to all, Lucy
Oops, that last line was not part of the quote…:-)
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Excellent post and very inspiring find!
croyuss last blog post..He’s here!
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