How many of you remember a great film called, Awakenings, that starred Robin Williams as a doctor who worked with patients who were “awakening” from mental illness problems.  The film came from a book written by Dr. Oliver Sacks and was based on his own work.  Dr. Sacks has had a fascinating life.  Lately, he’s been writing about Life itself and he’s become the inspiration Dr. Oliver Sacks.

He’s been diagnosed with cancer and has a short time to live.  He’s published a number of articles about aging and death—normally not a lot of fun to read.  But he’s inspirational in his approach and has something to say to all of us.

In the Sunday Review of the New York Times he’s written a wonderful piece.  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/opinion/sunday/oliver-sacks-sabbath.html?ref=opinion&_r=0  It’s called, Sabbath in which he recounts his childhood in London and how his orthodox Jewish family strictly observed the Sabbath.  As an adult Dr. Oliver Sacks ignored the religious practices of his family.

Now that he’s older and dying, he reflects on the benefits of these kinds of rituals.  He makes three points that are valuable for us today:

—One of the best aspects of the Sabbath, was the idea that a person would unplug from the crazy work and noise of daily life.  Even if you’re not Jewish, it’s a great suggestion.  We should all carve-out some space of peace and quiet every week.

—Rituals play a large role in all of our lives.  Maybe it’s watching NFL football on Sunday afternoons, a quilting club that meets every month, or weekly coffee with a group of friends.  As I get older, I appreciate the rituals that all of us have—and should do more to promote.  To some, a ritual seems stifling and boring when actually it frees us to relax and enjoy life.

—At the end of his piece, Dr. Oliver Sacks says:  “And now, weak, short of breath, my once-firm muscles melted away by cancer, I find my thoughts, increasingly, not on the supernatural or spiritual, but on what is meant by living a good and worthwhile life—achieving a sense of peace within oneself.”  What wonderful words to live by for all of us who are still healthy.

What does it mean for each of us to “live a good and worthwhile life?”  What should we do every day to make that happen so that years later, each of us can have peace within oneself?

Read this column from the inspirational Dr. Oliver Sacks!