“You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.”
-Chadwick Boseman
We found out Friday, August 28, 2020 that Chadwick Boseman had died at the age of forty-three from colon cancer. The surprise is shocking and heartbreaking.
Rather than announce the diagnosis to the world in 2016, Boseman kept the information private. He chose to treat the disease and to live his life. In that time he left us with powerful performances that showed us how we could make the most of our lives while facing a struggle that highlights our mortality.
We all know our time on earth is finite. We have the luxury of distracting ourselves with life, work, friends, family, etc., while believing our end is far away. Not everyone has that privilege. Many people know their time is shorter than others. And when you know, you have a choice to make regarding how you want to spend that time. As a family member of someone with a terminal diagnosis, you have a choice to make about how you want to spend that time as well.
Boseman spent his time making films, giving back to fans, and he got married. He focused on what was most special to him. He appreciated the world and people around him. He saw things with the eyes of a man soaking up every last ounce of beauty in life.
What would happen if we remembered the clock is always ticking? How would we cherish life in this context? What would we prioritize? What would we want to soak in and send out?
It is never too late to start cherishing what our life has or had. What memories of lost loved ones can we start cherishing now? How can we cherish the people around us in our present?
Here’s to a man who showed us how to live and die with grace and intention. You will be missed.
A.N.Carroll 