A Meaningful LIfe

"Knowing their life has meaning and that it will continue beyond them seems to lessen the white-knuckle grip on life and give them a sense of peace."

This came from something I just read in the Wall Street Journal about a series of classes Sloane Kettering offers for cancer patients. I think there might be applicable learnings for everyone. The curriculum is as follows:

• BC and AD (before cancer and after diagnosis): think about the past and what cancer has taken away. Find ways to still enjoy things.
• Historical sources of meaning: reflect on family, the era in which you grew up and even the meaning of your name. Remember the times you have been brave.
• Encountering life's limitations: you can still choose your attitude. Discussion question: what would be a meaningful death?
• What could live on beyond yourself?
• Resolve issues from the past.
• Transcend the limits imposed by cancer. Make life meaningful even if you're just lying in bed.
• Experience life: list the things you love or find beautiful.
• Work on a "legacy" project: write a book; create a piece of art; pass down a family recipe; "be the courageous person people think I am."

Recommended reading:
Frankl - Man's search for meaning
Death of Ivan Ilyich - in which he becomes the person he wants to be in the last five minutes of life.

And now, my teeth.

I'm thinking that broadening the subject matter of this blog might serve it/me well. So instead of reflecting only on cancer treatment, it'll now include observations on other physical failings. As I've noted elsewhere, once one turns 40 the wheels really do fall off.

This week: my teeth. I had a root canal. Two weeks ago, my dentist asked how things are going and after confirming that everything was fine, I made an off-hand remark about occasional sensitivity to cold in the tooth behind my canine tooth on the upper-right side. Cut to last Friday, and I'm Novocained up to the eyeballs (well, almost - I lost sensitivity in my nose) at the endodontist. I was referred there after they discovered that the root in this tooth is shaped like an "S" as opposed to the more conventional/desirable "I." Tricky.

Side note: during the procedure, the endodontist discussed the UofO football team, the Seattle Mariners and the fact that he'd just found his cell phone after ordering two alternates from Verizon - he was most anxious for his staff NOT to sign for delivery of the new phones. I think he's a good dentist - just very chatty....

But I survived my first root canal relatively unscathed, although the Novocaine hangover is still with me. Now all that remains is for me to go back to my dentist to get the temporary filling made permanent. Pity, then, that his office is closed for a week. I'll have to get used to chewing everything on the left side of my mouth for a while.