Had a really good heart to heart chat with Huat recently. He was hospitalised for an episode of weakness on his right periphery. Docs have identified the source and started treatment and physio to help him regain his mobility.
As usual he is very upbeat and feisty. He is determined to be as independent as functionally possible. We are chanting and encourage him to do likewise.
In the chat, he expressed his gratitude to us, his siblings for looking after him. He also mentioned about the new flat he is taking over in early November. He is looking forward very much to it. I had visited it and taken photos to show of the current state. Residents have started moving in or renovating their respective units too. The buzz around the new estate is starting to form.
He also has a sense of gratitude for the past 2 years of his journey with his illness. Why gratitude ? It is relative to what he knows of others and their arduous ones. He is grateful he was able to function at almost full capacity despite the surgeries, hospitalization and clinic visits.
This I attribute to his and our Buddhist practice which puts many things in perspective.
He said something that brought tears to me after my visit : if everyone only wants to choose the good in life, who would be left to pick the bad. (It was said in Hokkien but the gist was this)
I advised him to maximise his productive time with us and do what he likes, eat food that he enjoys and savour as well as collect even more fond memories as ultimately it is those that would sustain us long after (a certainty no doubt) we all are no longer around.
We all must remind ourselves : am I creating positive value in my and others’ lives. Am i also living the best way I can.
Hope you are collecting sweet memories with your loved ones too.
