Last Wishes

    

Alexander (356-323 BC) , born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia, was the son of Philip II, King of Macedonia, and of Olympia, a princess of Epirus. The royal couple wanted nothing less than the best for their son, so when he was 13, the best teacher during that era, Aristotle was engaged to be his personal tutor. Through the great philosopher’s tutelage, Alexander had a thorough training in rhetoric and literature, stimulated interest in science, medicine and philosophy, all of which were of paramount importance in his later life.

 

 Alexander was proclaimed king by the nobles and army at the age of 20 after the death of his father.  He went on to conquer the hugely-established Persian empire and annexed it to Macedonia. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas covering some 5.2 million sq km (2 million sq m).  Being invincible in battle, he was considered one of history’s most successful military strategist and won the coveted title ”the Great.”

 

This legendary hero was known to be hot tempered, rash and impulsive in nature, but had a calmer side—perceptive, logical, calculating and philosophical.  During his warring expedition in India, Alexander sought out local philosophers, the Brahmins, who were famous for their wisdom to debate on philosophical issues.

 

Alexander's death at the prime age of 33 in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II,  Babylon has been controversial since then.  One theory is that he was struck with pain after downing a large bowl of unmixed wine in honour of Hercules.  Apart from suspicion of fatal poisoning, natural-cause theories also tend to emphasise that his health may have been in general decline after years of heavy drinking and severe wounds.

 

At his final moment lying on the death-bed, he developed a fever, which rendered him speechless. The common soldiers, anxious about his health, were allowed to file past him as he waved silently at them.  His generals summoned earlier were told of his three ultimate wishes:

 

1. The best doctors should carry his coffin;

2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery, and

3. His hands should be let loose, hanging outside the coffin for all to see!!

To the above last wishes, one of his generals puzzled by these unusual requests asked him to explain.  This is what he had to say:

1. I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that, in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal;  (HEALTH)

2. I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, stays on earth… (WEALTH)

3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is TIME!  (TIME)

Alexander’s body was finally laid in a gold anthropoid sarcophagus that was filled with honey, which was in turn placed in a gold casket and delivered to one of his established posts.  Pompey, Julius Caesar and Augustus all visited his tomb during their reigns to pay their highest respects.

Lessons to learn…..

We are unable to bring any material WEALTH to the grave, although our good deeds may linger on.  If you are blessed with even a small fortune, show some generosity to the less fortunate in your celebratory mood.

Wealth can be accumulated but TIME is the most precious treasure because it is LIMITED.  When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never get back. Use it discreetly and allocate more for good causes and deserving ones.

With poor HEALTH, Wealth and Time are likely to lose their significance.

The path to take to LIVE, LOVE and DIE lies on each of us.  Take a page from one of the greatest man alive.  Make this TIME  journey a meaningful and rewarding experience!

Top 5 REGRETS of the DYING

The author, Bronnie Ware has been working in palliative care for many years. His patients were those who had gone home to die. He rendered service to them for the last 3-12 weeks of their lives.


Most people are reflective of their own mortality in the last phase of life. Drastic emotional changes are observed in anticipation of demise but all learn to accept and find inner peace eventually before they pass off.

On any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced repeatedly. The most common ones voiced out at their deathbeds are:

1. I wish I had the courage to live a LIFE true to myself, not the life others expected of me

The No. 1 regret. Looking back with the last breath, most people have more than half of their dreams not fulfilled due to poor choices made. Losing one’s health and all attempts to satisfy the needs of others are two drawback factors. With a guilt conscience, the major concern is to get the financial affairs in order for the benefit of their loved ones.

2. I wish I did not WORK so hard

All the male patients have this regret of not spending enough time with the family but only concern about providing for them.  They have not spared the thought about simplifying their lifestyle until it is too late to realise the mistake.

3. I wish I had the courage to express my FEELINGS

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, many developed illnesses relating to the pent-up bitter and resentful feeling.

Though we cannot control the reactions of others, candid expression may end up raising the relationship to a whole new and healthier dimension. Even if it does not work you get the uneasy feeling out of your chest.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my FRIENDS

Many people are so caught up in their own lives that they had let friendships slip by over the years and lose track completely. During their lonesome moments, they wish these friends are by their sides before their departures.


5. I wish that I had let myself be HAPPIER

Many people are so comfortable sticking to their old patterns and habits even though they are not happy. Fear of change is usually the reason for status quo.

Lessons to learn


The above 5 points should sum up what life is all about. Upon reaching the end of our journey, most would ponder if the essentials of life are accomplished. 

Is it too late to start taking stocks then?  During our lifetime, how often do we live to regret?  Is sad that many people have to leave this world with so much guilts behind.

A simple life is all that is required for our existence. Those who have been caring for others know that one day they need the care of others, especially during these crucial moments.

Life is all about being happy each passing day. We do not have to leave behind a legacy, just some fond memories for others to remember about.…..