Indeed, he was right. Since then, I have reflected often on these pearls of wisdom.

As physicians, we have been trained to be serious, dedicated, efficient, compassionate and caring, and to put our patients above ourselves. We find ourselves "running" all the time. And so with our adrenalin pump. Somehow, we become the victims of the expectations and stereotyping, from our student days, through medical/surgical residency training, and to the time we practice our art, and develop a hurried countenance. Then, years later, we wake up one morning and discover ourselves caught in a very fast whirling carousel of life. The momentum is so great that most often we find it very difficult to get off.

This "rushing syndrome" is not limited to physicians. People from all walks of life, professions or businesses are afflicted with this "malady." And the Type A personality in these individuals is great and wonderful for the people they serve…but not necessarily for themselves. Unfortunately, the social and economic pressures only compound this bad habit, and this "syndrome" is not only an epidemic but a pandemic.

As time goes by, we begin to realize that life is rapidly passing us by, right before our very eyes. Unless we truly live each day to the fullest and "smell the roses along the way," we may totally miss the chance to enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature, the love and tenderness of family life, and the magnificence of life itself.

The next time we find ourselves "routinely" rushing, perhaps we should pause and ask ourselves, "What am I rushing for? There are enough grave sites to go around, and it will never run out, so why am I hurrying to get into one?"

Indeed, in this modern world of tension and confusion, we need a healthier balance in our mindset, moderation, serenity, and tranquility, to enjoy life to the fullest. Let us take the time out – the time out to live.

Apropos to this philosophical wisdom, the short poem and essay below strike the very chord of this same message:

Savor Life

Let us not hurry to our graves

by casting recklessly our fate.

Not much time to abuse and waste,

let all the empty gravesites wait.

Savor Life’s overflowing cup

and every second we have left.

Time pauses not for any man,

enjoy life now before it’s gone.

***

Eat Dessert First

My eldest daughter, Sheillah, and her husband Tony, both practicing medicine in northwest Indiana, visited us on a Mother’s Day a few years back, and gave her mother a book entitled, "Life is Uncertain…Eat Dessert First," by Sol Gordon and Harold Brecher. This 153-page witty and delightful book proposes a recipe to help us set our priorities to enjoy life better. The metaphor glitters with wisdom.

As children, most, if not all of us, have been programmed by our parents to "not eat the dessert until you finish your meal." And subconsciously, we carry this teaching over to our adult and everyday life. We take care of our "important daily routines," and neglect or postpone enjoying the sumptuous "dessert" in life as we travel on. We delay our dream vacation, buying items on our "wish list," or doing things we have always wanted to do. We tend to save "for tomorrow" our best pair of shoes, best barong or suits, our special jewelries, our vintage wines, and plan to enjoy them "later," when the "proper" occasion comes.

Our mortal life is so brief, so evanescent and transient that it usually ends much sooner than we expect it to – most of the time without even a subtle warning, and most often than not before we have tasted the "dessert."

Indeed, time waits for no man. So, let’s care for our health, and enjoy life with our loved ones while we have each other, and while we have all three. It will be soon enough that one, or all three, will no longer be with us. Let us savor them now…before it’s too late.