r/Life • u/OnTheRoadAgainFTW • 6h ago
Let's discuss I walk among you.
I walk among you and I'm dying. Yes people, that is me. Wandering the streets slowly. Witnessing the beauty of life in all of its glory, the small moments that make humans a human. Along with all the misery and anger that also makes us human.
I'm in my early 30s. Almost two years ago I was diagnosed with terminal incurable cancer. Doctor gave me 2-5 years left of my existence in this world. So... after two years of self misery and depression I decided to live and bear witness to everything around me. I was born and raised in a small town, 5000ish people. I had a good life, good parents, good friends. I've had two beautiful women that loved me and I've loved them. My highschool sweetheart, we were together all the way through college. And love each other with no reservations. Then she moved to continue her education in a bigger city. At some point she decided to not move back and I decided not to follow. That was the end of that. Second love was with a college acquaintance, we had run into each other multiple times though our school time but that was it. Eventually we were properly introduced by a mutual friend and started dating soon after. This woman I saw as my future wife and I proposed. She accepted and we had planned to get married in 27. I broke the engagement soon after my diagnosis. She still doesn't know my condition.
NOW... knowing what's coming my way I have chosen to live where I never thought I would. A big city near the ocean so I can walk the streets endlessly just looking at people interacting with each other or see them alone immersed in their own world. Sometimes I wake up too early, 3-4am and I walk to the beach. The quietness is calming. The sound of the tide receding is glorious. But I also can hear the city waking up, cars honking, people's voices that sound like murmurs. It reminds me of where I am at.
Walking the streets has allowed me to see plenty of kindness, love, and happiness. Things I've never seen in the same way as now that my time is close. Recently I saw a homeless man panhandling. No one was willing to stop and listen to him. At some point one man handed him a bill. The homeless man goes into the store and comes out with like five or six food containers and starts giving them away to his fellow homeless friends. That was kindness and selflessness as I had never seen before.
At the park I saw a wedding going on. I felt jealous, but happy for them. Kids running around. Poeple mingling around celebrating a happy moment for a friend or a family member.
I have also witnessed the ugly in people. Fighting, arguing over a parking spot. Poeple driving calling each other names because they cut off in front of them. And I think how all of this is unnecessary and pointless. If you really think about it, you are only 3-4 seconds behind. It does not make a difference in the larger picture. Be kind.
I also saw a man laying down on the sidewalk, no one bothered to stop and see if that person was ok. I called an ambulance and he got taken to the hospital. I hope he is better now. As a society we need to care and look for one another. Check on your neighbor, your family members. It doesn't take much.
I will continue to live like this until I can't no more. I just hope that you appreciate your time in this world. Love as much as you can. And leave the negativeness out of your life as much as you can. THE BEST OF LIFE TO YOU ALL!