Death is something that everyone has to deal with at one point or another in life. Whether it is the death of a relative or you are struggling for your life – it is never easy to deal with death all by yourself.
Fortunately, most people don’t have to think about it until they reach an old age, but unfortunately there are some people who deal with it at a much younger age. Holly Butcher is one of them.
When Holly celebrated her 26th birthday she started thinking a lot about death after being diagnosed with malignant cancer.
She decided to write one last letter before she passed away, she posted the heartbreaking letter on Facebook on January 3, 2018.
Less than 24 hours after publishing the farewell letter, Holly passed away, with her family by her side.
Now her message has arrived and moved people all over the world.
She opened the letter:
“It’s weird to internalize and accept your own death at a young age. It’s just one of those things we ignore. The days go by and we just expect them to keep coming; until the unexpected happens. I always imagined myself aging, with wrinkles and white hair, surrounded by children I had planned to bring with the love of my life. I want it so badly it hurts.
I’m 27 now. I don’t want to go. I love my life. I’m happy. I owe it to my loved ones. But control is not in my hands.
We treat death as a taboo, something that will never happen to any of us. But that’s the part of life; They are fragile, precious and unpredictable. Every day is a gift, not a right.
I just want you to stop worrying so much about the small, meaningless stresses of life. Try to remember that fate awaits us all, so do what you can to make your time meaningful and great, without all the bullshit around.
Whenever you whine about something ridiculous just think of someone who really has a problem. Be grateful for your little problem. Do not dwell on it and do not let your mood ruin others’ day.
Get out and take a deep breath. Look how blue the sky is and how green the trees are; It’s so beautiful. Think how lucky you are that you can do just that – breathe.
You may be stuck in a traffic jam today, or you may not have slept well because your beautiful babies interfered with your sleep, or your hairdresser told you your hair was too short. You may have broken your nail with the fresh manicure, your breasts are too small, or you have cellulite on your torso and your stomach is flabby.
Do not pay attention to all this rubbish. I promise you will not think of all these things when it’s your time to go. It’s so unimportant when looking at life from above.
I see how my body goes in front of my eyes and there is nothing I can do about it. All I want now is just another birthday or holiday with my family, or just one more day with my spouse and dog. Just one more.
I hear people complain about how awful it is at work or how hard it is to do sports. Be thankful that you are even able to do that. Work and exercise may sound like such trivial things, until your body allows you to do none of them.
Take care of your body, even if it is not ideal in your opinion. Move it and feed it healthy food. Do not be obsessed with him.
Remember that there are other aspects of good health besides the physical body. Work equally hard to achieve mental, emotional and spiritual happiness as well. This way you will understand how unimportant it is to have the perfect “social networking body”, the one that is stupidly described.
Smoke less, people! And help each other more.
Give, give, give. It is said that it makes more happiness to give to others than to do for yourself. That’s right and I wish I would have done it more when I was healthy.
Since I got sick I have met incredibly generous and kind people who have supported me more than I can ever repay them.
Spend your money on experiences. Or at least, don’t miss out on experiences because you spent all your money on material nonsense.
It’s weird when you have money to spend towards the end, when you’re dying. It makes you realize how stupid it is that we think it’s worth spending so much money on new clothes and “things” in our lives.
Buy your girlfriend something nice instead of another dress, cosmetic or piece of jewelry for the next wedding. Because: 1. No one cares if you wear the same thing twice. 2. It’s a good feeling.
Rhetorical question: Girls, were all the hours you spent on hair, makeup, getting organized for fun really worth it?
Invite your loved ones to dinner. Buy them a plant, massage or candle. When you give them the gift tell them you love them.
Appreciate the time of others. Do not let people wait for you just because you are able to arrive on time. If you drive after, just get out of the house earlier. Remember that your friends want to spend their time with you, and not alone, in the expectation that you will come already.
Put in the effort and go on that trip to the beach that you always wanted to do and did not deliver. Dip your feet in the water, dig with your toes in the sand, wet your face with seawater. Go out into nature.
Just try to enjoy beautiful moments instead of experiencing them through your phone screen. Life is not meant to be lived through a screen and not to be immortalized in a perfect picture. Enjoy your moment, stop trying and document it for others.
Get up early from time to time, at sunrise. Listen to the birds chirping. Look at the beautiful shades of the sky as the sun rises.
Listen to music, but seriously. Music is therapy.
Pat your dog. This is something I will miss so much.
Talk to your friends and ask how they are.
Work to live, do not live to work.
Eat the cake, without any remorse.
Don’t be ashamed to refuse things you really do not want to do.
Don’t feel pressured to do what other people believe is meaningful to life. If you want to live a mediocre, average life, that’s fine!
Tell your loved ones at every opportunity that you love them, and love them with all your heart.
Remember: If something makes you unhappy – at work or in love or whatever – you have the power to make a difference. Did it. You do not know how much time you have left, so do not waste it on being miserable. I know it’s always said, but it’s so true.
And one more request: do good to me and to all mankind, and donate blood regularly. It will also make you feel good about yourself and may also save lives. Any blood donation can save three people!
The blood donations I received gave me another year – a year that I will forever be grateful to have had the privilege of living on this land with my family, friends and my dog. A year in which I went through some of the most beautiful moments of my life.”