life, short, make it happen, get after it, SHTF, Rourke
Life Philosophy

Thinking about “Life” and Just How Short It Is

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Over the past several weeks there have been several deaths in my life. While some of these are people I’ve never met and others people who I considered friends or “brothers” – seems this cluster of misfortune simply sucks(especially for them and their family). Panhandle Rancher passed just a while back. Dave Wolf from Wolf-Fire Firearms passed suddenly and unexpectedly literally days after I met him at Prepper Camp 2021. Dave ad I go way back and we were just talking about putting together a firearms course for Maine Prepper Girl. Just this past week I learned that Serious Survivor on YouTube passed suddenly. Death sucks. Period.

My own dad died at the age of 65 after battling cancer for a year. I saw him work tirelessly to reach retirement age where he and mom planned to retire in New Bern, NC, and enjoy a life of gold and sailing. Cancer had other plans. I’m turning 52 today and certainly feel a sense of urgency to get where I want to be….soon.

Over in the member area, I routinely discuss my life at a much more personal level. A recent promotion and an upcoming move afford me an opportunity to accelerate my plans. Now is the time to grab life by the balls and make it happen. Can’t go back in time so everything begins now.

What do I want? What are my goals? What will make me happy? To establish and complete my American Exit Strategy.

Enjoy the day. No matter what it IS the first day of the rest of your life. Make it count.

Rourke

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12 Comments

  1. goinggray58 says:

    I have a feeling that this has gone on with every generation John. In our business as youth and figuring out who we are and raising kids takes all our energy, we have little or no time for reflection. That is fine because we still have some many of the wise old men available to us, that we never want for available experience to temper our decisions and teach us. I saw this starting a few years back.. about the same time it is occurring to you age wise… John.. the scary version is it’s always happened and this is you moving onto the “wise old guy shelf”. I wish you a long healthy and productive residency. The guys on the shelf ahead of you are there to help… One word or advice if I may.. Don’t let too much the time get away from you .. save a little of it to live. It is the only thing you will miss as your residency comes to a close. I learned this from some of the folks that have moved on to the next stage .. whatever that is…
    I am glad things are going well and opportunity is there for you.
    FYI IMO.. we should all be looking to find and engage newer and younger like minds to our circles. Or add ourselves to theirs. So what we have learned will not be lost. Just a thought
    GG58

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  3. Oren says:

    I hear you John. My aunt, who I was very close to, gave me some very good advice which I did not heed as she lay on her death bed. She told me…”you do not belong to yourself. You belong to your family and especially to your wife. The two of you should stop chasing a horizon and start concentrating on each other. Life is really short.” She died within the week.
    As a Vietnam vet, I heard of Agent Orange and the adverse affects of exposure. Never did I think I would be one of the “victims”. My first symptoms showed up in 1993. Recently I had another problem. Sure, I left am in 1969. I’ve found out that many of the problems germinate and fester and don’t show for many years. Here I sit today retired. As of last month the VA changed my disability classification from 50 to 100% Permanently Disabled. Thank you Uncle Sam. I came home returned to school, graduated in engineering and then worked all over with retirement as my goal so that my wife and I could sit back and just do what ever we wanted. Now, at 75, I feel I’m too tired, broke down, used up and wore out to do much of anything else by just sit back.

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  4. John Gault says:

    Of course GG58 is right, this happens to everyone sooner or hopefully later. I’m 61 now, I’ve lost so many of my family now it seems unbelievable. I’ve lost a number of friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and people I’ve done business with, it’s just unreal. When my mother passed and we went thru her things and all the pictures of the life her and my dad had built I remember all I could think was “what’s the point”. Why do all this, why build a life when in the end your just going to die. Of course that was the grief thinking for me and I got over it in time. After dealing with end of life issues multiple times I can say that it is definitely important to build a life, to really live it. To enjoy it, experience all you can and share it with the ones you love. You are only here once, and trust me when I tell you that when you near the end you won’t regret the things you did in life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do. As your time runs short your future grows dim and your memories grow brighter , make lots of bright memories now while you have the chance!

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  5. CaptTurbo says:

    Good comments all! This comes at a particularly perinate time for me as my little brother died unexpectedly Thanksgiving Eve at 54 years of age. I’m scrambling now to get things in order here so I can fly to Ohio on Thursday to be there for services and for my young nephews he leaves behind.

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  8. vandal67 says:

    I had 6 siblings, All are gone, as are my mom, dad, and all my aunts and uncles. I have one niece that I see once in a while. I have 3 sons & families that I see once in a while also. I’m 72 and way beyond the average age of men in my family. But, I’m not complaining as I know where I will spend eternity. If anyone hasn’t made the decision to accept Salvation thru the Blood of Jesus Christ, don’t put it off as none of us has a guarantee of tomorrow. Just believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and arose from the dead 3 days later, and u will be saved!

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  10. arlene shako says:

    Capt. Turbo- my thoughts and prayers are with you in your sudden loss. It is easier for
    the person who dies suddenly but harder for the loved ones who are left.
    Rourke-at age 71 I am keenly aware of the death of friends and family and pets and fellow preppers on your wonderful site that has become like extended family .As we age we become more aware of the precious ness of moments and sharing . Things that have been left unsaid gather urgency to set the record straight from the heart so to speak.
    There is an expression in hospice ( where I worked as a Chaplain)
    that goes -for a new born baby. We smiled the day you were born as you cried and upon death you smiled and we cried as you left.
    Tomorrow is the birthday of my beloved brother in law who died many years ago at age 25-doing what he loved- hiking the Teton Mts. We have missed him deeply and am looking forward to seeing him in heaven.
    Be in the moment with those you care about and do what matters to you in life while you are able to.
    I am always available to anyone who wishes to share or have a shoulder to lean upon -by phone or e mail.
    Rourke has my info. Arlene

    Reply
  11. CaptTurbo says:

    Thank you for your very warm thoughts and comments Alene. We are living through and ugly time but we have the company of lovely people such as you. I am in a sad moment but I feel blessed.

    Reply
  12. bbbb A.I. is evil says:

    Very good comments,all!!As many can Discern,it is a Time of Transition.Planetary as well as national all the way down to individual and family.What IS THE POINT????Good Question.Ascension-research.org,LawofOneSociety.org,and Suzanne Geisemann may be helpful.Leaving America to go Where?Seems as though you are alive at this time to bring together decent,Loving humans to Help each other and those with no prep skills/experience..Lowtechmagazine.com.The POINT IS THIS…….TO BECOME MORE EVOLVED SPIRITUAL HUMANS AND LITERALLY BE BEACONS OF LIGHT,LOVE,COMPASSION,TOLERANCE,FORGIVENESS,AND PEACE,everything else is either an aid or obstacle to this.There are many traps,such as materialism,ego,anger,confusion,animal appetites,let’s say.Griw your heart and help others stumbing along.Omicron=MORONIC in anahram form=insult to us.Give the antihuman oppressors nothing but prayers of repentance on their parts and a determination to unify with other lightbearers.Peace!! 🙂

    Reply

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