Sometimes when I get discouraged and feel that Life has dealt me a Bad Hand, Things are Unfair, and The Man is Getting Me Down, I remember folks who have serious woes, and realize that really I've got no problems. Recently that came to mind when I read Chris Jones's profile of Roger Ebert in Esquire magazine. Film critic Ebert, lucky to be alive, is basically happy and productive. He says of his imminent death:

I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear. I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter. You can't say it wasn't interesting. My lifetime's memories are what I have brought home from the trip. ...

(cf. Roger Ebert's journal, ... ) - ^z - 2010-02-26