The Death of Ivan Ilych

I read a short story online today for my Principles of Research class. The title is "The Death of Ivan Ilych". It is a short read, but definitely one that is worth reading. The story is by Leo Tolstoy, and it is much shorter than "War and Peace"; also by Tolstoy.

The main idea of the story is that we choose how we live. Living does not only consist of working and doing chores and sleeping, etc. Living is how we respond to those closest to us, it is how we spend time with the Lord. Listen to Ivan Ilych:

"Maybe I did not live as I ought to have done," it suddenly occurred to him. "But how could that be, when I did everything properly?" he replied, and immediately dismissed from his mind this, the sole solution of all the riddles of life and death, as something quite impossible.(http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/tolstoydeath.html

I would encourage you to read this story(http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/tolstoydeath.html) to more fully understand the above quote. But let me see if I can give you the gist of the story.
There are many of us who at the end of our life will have regrets, and realize that it would have been more important that we had a good relationship with our family than how much money is in our bank account. Just because we do everything proper, does not mean we have done the proper things.

Can I encourage you to not work so many hours if it is at all possible? If you have to work a tough schedule maybe you can make some time for your family. If you are not careful just when you blink your kids will be grown. Let your life be one of authenticity. Spend time with your family, you won't regret it.

The life that we live is not one that we have no control over. Start taking back the control of your life, and choose the way in which you will live.