Over the last few days, I have been able to see my life as from a great altitude, as a sort of landscape, and with a deepening connection of all its parts. This does not mean I am finished with life. On the contrary, I feel intensely alive, and I want to hope in the time that remains to deepen my friendships, to say farewell to those I love, to write more, to travel if I have the strength, to achieve new levels of understanding and insight.

This will involve audacity, clarity, and plain speaking; trying to straighten my accounts with the world. But there will be time, too, for some fun (and even some silliness, as well).

Oliver Sacks

“My Own Life,” the second essay in Oliver Sacks’ Gratitude, chronicles his thoughts on having terminal cancer. This essay presents how he will spend his last time on earth. I am drawn to it right now as an exercise in deep understanding, in holding both sorrow and joy, in separating wheat from chaff, in treasuring what matters and setting other things free. Sacks speaks of audacity, clarity, and plain speaking — the straightening of accounts. Strengthening of accounts is important whenever we set them. As we wake up in the morning. As we go to sleep at night. After we receive a diagnosis of terminal illness. During a pandemic. When we give birth. At decision points in our lives. At all our beginnings and our endings.

Sacks writes about the value of love and work. He boils it all down to love and work. That makes sense to me. Within love and work, our dreams are manifest. Within love and work, there is room for joy. Within love and work, life whispers and we listen. Within love and work, our accounts are straight.