FADING INTO THE SUNSET, NOBODY KNOWS WHEN

FADING INTO THE SUNSET, NO ONE KNOWS WHEN

One day it will all come to an end

I will fade into the sunset

Stealthily and unnoticed

No traces left behind.

There will be no more pain

No sorrow languishing in the heart

My name will be lost in infinite space

No remembrance from the earth.

(Maria Franco)(2012)

We are not immortal. Yes, we are living longer, but that’s because more people have given up smoking, have eaten better and have taken drugs to control blood pressure. Medical breakthroughs in the last couple of decades, even with cancer, have been few and far between. We’re still waiting to see the benefits of gene and stem-cell therapy, cloned organs and the decoding of the human genome. We still have no idea how to treat Alzheimer’s disease or dementia on a longer term basis.

Or could young blood offer the antidote to aging for those, who are keen to extend life? Apparently, blood from a young mouse has been able to rejuvenate the muscles of an old mouse (Kaiser, SCIENCE, Dec 19th, 2014). Ever since ‘the Fountain of Youth’ (de Leon) of 150 years ago, experiments have multiplied to reverse the signs of aging.

Nothing is forever. Life is a process of up and down cycles. Don’t be in a stressed state of mind, because of this! It’s a fact of life. Just do, what you have to do as long as you’re sure, that you are meant to do it. O.K., you can never be sure of anything, but make no mistake: everybody has a destiny, otherwise your maker wouldn’t have bothered! Your life cannot be in vain. You can increase the likelihood of being the right person, in the right place, at the right time. Luck is rare.

Therefore, you have to keep moving in order to cope with all the headwinds, which threaten to get you off course. All you need is one breakthrough and you have lift-off. You will then be put into a new orbit. Never accept your present situation, however, even though that may feel comfortable enough. It’s chaos out there. Relentless competition is all around you, so being unconcerned will make you very vulnerable. ‘Only the paranoid survive’ (Andrew Grove).

Obviously, everyone may sometimes get the urge to tell the world, that you have checked out, that you’ve left the building. There are pressures everywhere and you may well seem overwhelmed by them. In that case, think of the bird high up in the sky. What a wonderful sight, what a miracle, defying the law of gravity, observing the turmoil from above. Are you at peace yet? Just relax, because restlessness won’t get you anywhere. Sit still for awhile and confront, whatever makes you uncomfortable. It may take some patience and discipline, otherwise you’ll be unable to focus on what’s essential.

Regret, shame, guilt and worry hinder your progress and are a waste of time. You cannot change history, but you can change your future. Life consists constantly of second chances. The most important phrase in life is: next! Even the best athletes fail 90% of the time. No use to dwell on what’s gone wrong for whatever reason. All you need, is the next light in the tunnel. It will surely come. Be ready. Eternal darkness is simply not an option. Make optimism a way of life! Never give up, because we have no time for despair. Great faith is actually often born in the greatest hour of need.

RICK SCHMULL

February 16th, 2015

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, U.K.

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