My first thought on this book is how a beautiful work of art this is. Considering the book was written by a neurosurgeon, this is nothing short of exceptional talent. The writing was insightful and invoke many emotions as I was reading, I consider this a trait of excellent story-telling. The work was about the defining question of what is the meaning of death, how can someone cope with the facts that their days are numbered, the relationship between patient and doctor, how a doctor view his own death, and most importantly to me, what is the reason for us to go on despite facing an unshakable truth that death is inevitable.
To my last question, the ultimate paragraph in the book would be the answer. For the author, the reason to go on living was his daughter, the final paragraph in the book was solely meant for the baby girl that he so adored. Despite all the pains, medications, implications of cancer that he had to go through, and the fact that his days are numbered, cannot change his urge to love and adore this little creature. He was a very brave man, for me to think, I wouldn’t dare love someone or something that much once my life is coming to an end, for it is a double-edged sword. Is there any meaning to love if it would end tragically one day? Loving someone can give you those joyous moments when you’re in love but then again to depart from them one day is a pain perhaps, much greater than losing your own life. But he fought on all of that fear, I don’t think he spent much time to dread on this fear of love. Rather, he understands to endure this treacherous road, he would need to find his one true meaning to not die.
My days are also numbered, but it doesn’t come across with such sincerity and concrete as for the case of cancer patients. Like most people, I understand that death will come my own way, and with a link to the case of present – future self, I leave it to my future self to deal with this though. However, since I now believe that my future self is also my present self, I need to help myself get ready for this bumpy journey of accepting my own death and figuring out what is the meaning for my continuous struggle on this Earth.
A one true love would be the answer to this question. One of the answers for this question. I suspect none of the answer can satisfy as the one truth above all else, rather, I would have to make my decision to make one of the answer I believe in to be the truth above all. My first thought is to find a one true love of my life. I started thinking about my work life, is it something that I would call the love of my life? I suspect that is not the answer, work doesn’t bring me that sparkle when I am on my death bed. It seems work is a mean, a simple tool for us to sharpen our skills and our knowledge dealing with other people for our daily life. To be honest, work provides a really great distraction to the daily life. Left alone, people would do some stupid shits that would make the Earth decays faster than its current rate. Perhaps my true personal work could be one of the love that I would like to have. I am curious about people and knowledge so I believe the podcast / blog can very much become a love that I can treasure and brings joy whenever I think about it. Definitely the word love here could contain people as well, I have a few people in my life that I truly love, a smaller amount that I would live and truly care for. The love for and from these treasured ones is a reason for my strength and my will to live on. Lastly I think it’s a love that makes no money and serve the purpose of only improving myself and satisfy my own curiosity. BJJ or martial arts can be implied here as I am very much curious about these subjects and the effects on one’s body and mind.
“When breath becomes air” has given me the opportunity to stop and think deeply about what my life, my goals, and my interaction with my surroundings. Death seems a bit closer and uglier through this work. I learnt many things and intend to explore even more with the basics of this book. Thank you Paul Kalanithi.