By Kay Conklin
Contributing columnist
I know I spend a lot of time at our library just reading titles. Before I ever take a book off of the shelf, I have read the title and have become interested in what that book could be about. When I saw the title of a certain new book, I couldn’t put it down without opening it up. The book is “For You When I am Gone” by Steve Leder.
In each of the 12 chapters of this book, he is asking a different question for the reader to answer in their own minds.
I have picked a few of the questions and will be writing the anonymous answers that were given to him.
One of the titles is “What Makes You Happy?” And one of the answers is: “Happiness really is togetherness. It is who, not what, we have that makes us happy, and so often happiness is in the most ordinary moments with the ones we love. Tell the people you love about those moments great and small when happiness filled your heart because of them.”
A second title is “What Got You Through Your Greatest Challenge?” And one of the answers is: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of people out there who want to help you and can help you. It makes them feel good to do so. “
A third title is “What Do You Regret?” And one of the answers is: “A critical message of my ethical will is having the humility and wisdom to admit we never know how much time we or our loved ones will have on earth. Act as if there may be no second chance—because there may not be—and don’t risk the heartbreaking regret of not showing up.”
A fourth title is “What Is a Good Person?” An answer is: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
A fifth title is “What is Love?” And one of the answers is: “Love is unconditional. When you love someone, you accept them for who they are, for better or for worse. Saying you’re sorry, even if you’re not sure how you really feel. Love is just a feeling—you don’t have to think about it — you just feel it. If you have to think about it, it’s probably not love.”
And a sixth title is “How do You Want to Be Remembered?” And one of the answers is: “Just remember me at my best. Laughing, smiling, listening to the music I love. And passionately engaged in my work and witness to love and serve others.”
This covers half of the chapters, and you may want to pick up the book to read the other half of the questions that were asked.
Kay E. Conklin is a retired Delaware County recorder who served four terms. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in sociology and anthropology.
