If life is spared

THERE is no doubt that Barbados has a rapidly ageing population. It is also a well-known fact that our population is not the healthiest in the world. The incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases is truly worrisome and must be tackled.

 

So we have an interesting mix of persons who are growing old, but their quality of life is not necessarily going to be the best.

 

Yet with the greatest of ironies, we also have a younger group of our population who simply are not making it to the ripe old age of three score and ten.

 

So hearing the older generations say, “See you tomorrow, if life is spared”, is not a dark premonition of one’s life being snatched in the middle of the night, as we’ve seen recently it is the reality that we are facing every day.

 

With conspiracy theorists trying to figure out why so many people have “dropped dead” in recent times, and with medical and other officials coming out to refute claims, there is one thing that we must all remember. Live every day like it’s your last.

 

It is against this backdrop that I must truly thank our very own veteran bandleader, Renee Sheppard-Ratcliffe, who tragically and suddenly died on Kadooment Day. I, like the thousands of Barbadians, was affixed to the television screen and watched this effervescent soul being interviewed on television and glowing with excitement to see the costumes which she designed hit the road. With great sadness, we received the news that she had collapsed and died just a few minutes later.

 

During a service of thanksgiving for her life, it was reminded that at the tender age of 28 she had a massive heart attack and stroke. For the next 12 years she lived her life to the fullest, bringing joy and laughter to those around her.

 

However, we are hopeful that her family and friends, who will miss her dearly, have some comfort knowing that she died doing what she absolutely loved. She loved Mas.

 

Hopefully, we can all learn from Renee and her love for life. Many persons are going through their days caught up in the rat-race, but are not doing what they love, not appreciating family or even trying something new.

 

There is no way to know what tomorrow will bring, therefore it is almost ridiculous to make plans weeks and months in the future.

 

We should seek to cherish every day and live it like it’s our last. However, as the medical experts would advise, that does not mean living one’s life in excess, particularly as it relates to substances.