Some real life perspective

I took the afternoon off yesterday and was walking down my street to do some shopping. A lovely old couple live about four doors down, he is the ex latin teacher at the local private school and she is the ex music teacher. Sometimes I dread it when they are outside as they are both quite deaf but enjoy conversation.

Whilst walking by yesterday they were both out in their garden and I stopped to exchange pleasantries. Being British our conversation obviously started with the weather and then moved on to local issues and eventually onto the global financial issues.

We were discussing our disgust at the bankers complete lack of management and sheer greed that has brought about this situation when Alan said in a very matter of fact way "well I don't need to worry about all this as this is my last winter here, I have only months left to live. I'm going to enjoy every last second". I didn't know what to say so said I was sorry and very quickly made my excuses and left.

His statement got me thinking that we as humans are like sheep, all following the media in our fear and anxiety about how life is going to change(for the worse).

If we all had an attitude that this is our last winter, how different would our outlook, attitude and lives be?