When is it time?

Prior to deploying service members are asked questions that most people their age do not even consider.  This questions are addressed again when chronic illnesses and/or advanced age come into play.  These is NOTHING pleasant about this conversation, but it is one that everyone needs to have with their loved ones. 

I have been chewing on this for the better part of the day (actually, it has been a lot longer but), at what point is it time to… call it quits? You’re not quitting anything.  Admit defeat? Nope, that’s not right either.  Move on? What do you call it?  How do you determine when it is time for the doctors to stop doing everything in their power?  How do you…??? It is not an easy place to be but it is something that needs to be communicated.  Advanced directives are important.  It might save your family from the guilt in knowing they “killed” you, when in fact they did not, they were truly doing what was in your best interest.  I mean it is easy to say ‘if I’m brain dead, pull the plug.’ There are so many more factors that need to be taken into consideration… If you are in constant unmanageable pain, is that your limit?  If you suffer a stroke and you end up with lock-in syndrome, would that do it?  Would you do what Brittany Maynard did? These are all facts that should be discussed as a family (whether your family is blood or people who have come into your life and are there for you through thick and thin).

As a lupie, these are decisions that are I have thought about and discussed with my family to a certain extent, but nowhere near to the level it needs to be. 

Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.

–Swami Sivananda