Why A Blog On Living Forever?

Why would any one write a blog on Living For Ever?

That’s a good question and I’ll tell you why. Exactly ten years ago my favourite cousin Les asked me this question during one of his visits to my house: ‘How long do you expect to live for?’

To be honest I had never given it any thought. So I reflected on his question briefly and told him that a clairvoyant’s crystal ball once portrayed me at a ripe old age with hair as white as snow. ‘I’ll sign up for that,’ I said, at a time when I still believed in soothsayers.
‘What about you Les?’ I asked.

Les and I had great rapport, which may have had something to do with the fact that we were of the same vintage.

‘Me,’ he said, ‘I’ll be living forever.’

He grinned at me with a smile bigger than the sun, ‘Me,’ he said, whilst poking his finger at his chest, ‘I’ll be living for ever!’

A week later he had taken his own life. I wrote a small article about it in 2005 as part of a feature story on teenage depression, you can read about that below.


The concept of living for ever somehow sounded different to ‘heaven.’

Like most people I had heard about heaven but it was my cousin Les who introduced me to the concept of living for ever. The concept of living for ever somehow sounded different to ‘heaven.’

The passing of my favourite cousin combined with several near death experiences experienced by myself were some of the reasons that prompted me to study living for ever intensely for the next decade.

Les wrote poetry during his lifetime but this particular poem as printed above was artistic licence from the author to fit in with the story and convey Les’ mood on his last visit to his cousin (me). For help with or information on depression visit beyondblue.org.au, the black dog institute, pressonaustralia or phone Lifeline on 131 114.

all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014

0 Responses

  1. dollydreamingdarkly
    | Reply

    I’ve never had a blog before, and I’m pretty shy, but I just wanted to say thanks for liking my first post on the commons. That’s what made me decide to check out your post. I just want you to know that this story really resonated with me. I actually started writing again as therapy for cyclothymia. I’m sorry about your cousin and the grief his loss causes. But thank you for sharing his and your story.

    • liveforeverhowto
      | Reply

      Hi dollydreamingdarkly. I had to google what cyclothymia stands for. I’m sorry about that. Have you found ways of dealing with this that work for you? Thank you for your kind comments. love the colours on your blog btw, my very favourite.

  2. dollydreamingdarkly
    | Reply

    It’s a recent diagnosis, and since I’m not comfortable about taking medications because of the side effects listed, I’ve mostly been trying to keep to a routine, exercise and eat better, track my triggers and mood, and open up to my family and friends for support (they’ve been so understanding it’s overwhelming at times). So far these seem to be working out quite well.
    I actually picked the colors on my blog for their lighter and happier feel with the hope that I’ll continue to feel that way. I guess I feel like every little thing helps in the long run. I like your blog colors as well, by the way; they’re very peaceful.

  3. liveforeverhowto
    | Reply

    Thank you, I have an excellent designer helping me out with my site and am very grateful to her.

    For such a recent diagnosis, it sounds like you’re well on track managing your condition. Each and every point you mention as part of your strategy is considered to be an essential part of managing these kind of conditions.
    All kudos to you!

    You’re spot on with regards to every little thing helping in the long run. What is life other than a string of little things and small and big events all strung together, one after the other.

    Keep on dreaming Dolly. With your attitude those dreams can only get lighter and brighter as time goes on.

    Looking forward to hearing more about you.

    Mimi

  4. […] dedicate this blog to my brothers and sisters whom I love much and to my cousins and their families in memory of Les who told me that he will live for […]

  5. […] Over the past decade I’ve reflected on issues of life and death because of various close calls and because, days before he took his own life, my favourite cousin asked me, ‘How long do you expect to live for?’ […]

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