"Worry less, Love more, and Live Freely."
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Tom has brain cancer - he has 3 months, 3 years, or longer. His new motto, “Worry less, love more, and live freely.”
At lunch, he shares his journey, “What a long strange trip it’s been.” Faced with a steep uphill battle, Tom tells me he has a “heightened sense of awareness,” and now “talks to everyone.”
Looking at the menu, I mention he should try the half and half.
He says, “Oh I am thinking about the ½ sandwich and soup lunch special.”
I shake my head in the slow broad negative, “Oh no, 1/2 Cream of Crab soup and ½ Maryland Crab soup.”
“For real?”
“Oh yeeeeaaaah! I shake my head in a slow exaggerated affirmative.
Tom is not buying it and engages the waitress, “Do you serve ½ and ½ soup?”
She shakes her head vigorously in the affirmative, “Oh, yeah.”
“If you say so, I will try it.”
Half way through the soup, Tom declares, “This is delicious.”
A friend told Tom that he can’t wait for Tom 4.0. Tom explains.
Tom 1.0 - life through college.
Tom 2.0 - large corporation, raising kids
Tom 3.0 - small business owner, raising kids.
Tom 4.0 – retirement, grandkids.
Keenly aware the Tom 4.0 might be cut short. He is “getting organized.” He tells me of his “Brain Trust” - a group of advisors -attorney, accountant, financial advisor, even a funeral director.”
He tells me, “Nothing left unsaid and nothing left undone.”
He finishes his soup, “That was delicious.”
As we part, Tom thanks me for joining him and says, “Now, whenever I think of you. I will think of ½ and ½.”
I smile, I am honored.
How about you? What is your 4.0? Share a story!
