I thought about this as I read about Joe Paterno's death this afternoon.
As anyone who hasn't been hiding behind a rock knows, Paterno was fired late in 2011 because of his supposed role in covering up the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Paterno had lost the love of his life, Penn State football. Yes, he still had his wife and family, but I'd argue that his number one love in life was Penn State football. Paterno had been with the University for 61 years, and the Head Coach for 46 years. And in a period of two days, all of that was taken away from him.
We hear and see stories about people "giving up" on life after losing their spouse, or the most important person in their life. Did Paterno do this after losing his job at Penn State? I have no idea. All I know is that when he was diagnosed on November 18th, his doctors called it "very treatable". Two months later, he passed away.
I saw it in person with my grandmother. She lost her husband 15 years before her death, but she lost much of herself as time went on. As each of her grandkids grew up and started lives, with myself and my little sister moving away, she became depressed. When my twin sister had children, my parents became more involved with being grandparents then spending time with my grandmother, and I believe that sealed her fate. She was having significant arm pain, and refused to get it checked out. By the time my mother forced her to go to the doctor, she had developed Stage 4 breast cancer. She spent two months in the hospital, and was in essence sent "home" to my mother's house to die. Under hospice care, she passed away 6 days later. She had lost her will to live. She gave up.
I've never been tested personally as to where something terribly tragic has happened. All four of my grandparents have passed, and while it still hurts to this day, life has gone on. Ive had two dogs die, one taking her final breath in my arms. A year later, it still hurts, but again, I have so much to live for. I have a wife I adore who feels the same, and a less then month old child. Right now, they're my life. I've got family and friends I love tremendously, but it's just not the same.
With them being my life, I perish but consider the thought of what would happen if I were to lose them. I honestly can't imagine where my life would go following that. And perhaps that would be the thing that would cause me to give up. I have youth on my side, as I'm only 29. But as I lay here next to my sleeping wife and my baby girl in the next room, I tremble inside at the thought of losing either. Losing both is something I can't imagine. And perhaps, perish the thought, it would make me give up on life myself. It's crazy to think that about the two largest blessings in my life.
What about you? Is there anything in life that would make you give up on life? Or do you have something, someone, or some strength you could fall back upon no matter what?
As anyone who hasn't been hiding behind a rock knows, Paterno was fired late in 2011 because of his supposed role in covering up the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Paterno had lost the love of his life, Penn State football. Yes, he still had his wife and family, but I'd argue that his number one love in life was Penn State football. Paterno had been with the University for 61 years, and the Head Coach for 46 years. And in a period of two days, all of that was taken away from him.
We hear and see stories about people "giving up" on life after losing their spouse, or the most important person in their life. Did Paterno do this after losing his job at Penn State? I have no idea. All I know is that when he was diagnosed on November 18th, his doctors called it "very treatable". Two months later, he passed away.
I saw it in person with my grandmother. She lost her husband 15 years before her death, but she lost much of herself as time went on. As each of her grandkids grew up and started lives, with myself and my little sister moving away, she became depressed. When my twin sister had children, my parents became more involved with being grandparents then spending time with my grandmother, and I believe that sealed her fate. She was having significant arm pain, and refused to get it checked out. By the time my mother forced her to go to the doctor, she had developed Stage 4 breast cancer. She spent two months in the hospital, and was in essence sent "home" to my mother's house to die. Under hospice care, she passed away 6 days later. She had lost her will to live. She gave up.
I've never been tested personally as to where something terribly tragic has happened. All four of my grandparents have passed, and while it still hurts to this day, life has gone on. Ive had two dogs die, one taking her final breath in my arms. A year later, it still hurts, but again, I have so much to live for. I have a wife I adore who feels the same, and a less then month old child. Right now, they're my life. I've got family and friends I love tremendously, but it's just not the same.
With them being my life, I perish but consider the thought of what would happen if I were to lose them. I honestly can't imagine where my life would go following that. And perhaps that would be the thing that would cause me to give up. I have youth on my side, as I'm only 29. But as I lay here next to my sleeping wife and my baby girl in the next room, I tremble inside at the thought of losing either. Losing both is something I can't imagine. And perhaps, perish the thought, it would make me give up on life myself. It's crazy to think that about the two largest blessings in my life.
What about you? Is there anything in life that would make you give up on life? Or do you have something, someone, or some strength you could fall back upon no matter what?
