Dawn's Notes

3,900 Marbles
May 2010
by Dawn Phelps, RN/LMSW

While my husband and I were away on a trip during March, two people I had grown to love died suddenly.  I was shocked and saddened by their deaths.  I did not get to tell them good-bye or attend their funerals.
By their deaths, I was again reminded of how fragile and unpredictable life can be and of how important it is let those around us know how much we love them.      
Several months ago I received an email that I have not been able to forget.  I would like to share the essence of the email with you. 

The story is told of a fifty-five-year-old man who developed a “marbles theory” to help him remember to live life well, spending his time on the important things in life. 
The man looked at life mathematically, equating each week of one’s life as one marble.  Working from the assumption that 75 years is an average life span, he figured that we have 3,900 weeks or 3,900 “marbles” to spend while alive.  (He multiplied 75 years by 52 weeks in a year, thus 3,900 marbles.) 
At age 55, the man realized that he only had about a thousand marbles left, so he decided to use his “marbles” or weeks well. To help him remember to prioritize his time, he bought a total of 1,000 marbles.  He put the marbles in a large clear jar.
Each week, on Saturday, he took one marble out of his jar and threw it away.  Removing a marble each week visually reminded him that another week was gone and to “spend” his time on the things in life that matter.   
Using the man’s formula, I did some figuring.  I am 68 years old, so I have about 350 weeks or 350 “marbles” left if I live to 75.  To me, any time after age 75 will be a bonus! 

 If you are less than 75, how about doing the math for yourself?  Just take the number of years you have left until age 75 and multiply times 52 weeks. How many marbles do you have left?
If you are already past 75, you are already blessed!  So how about purchasing some marbles and starting your “Over-75 Jar.”  Each week place a marble in your jar.   
This week I bought 350 marbles for my jar.   This Saturday I plan to start taking out one marble, saving my marbles to re-use in my “Over-75 Jar” if I am blessed with time past 75.

I challenge you to give some thought to the things and people in your life that matter the most.  Let those dear to you know that they are loved and show them you care through your actions.  Don’t waste your marbles—spend your “marbles” well!

Call about the next "Living Life after Loss" Group at:
Meadowlark Hospice
709 Liberty
Clay Center, Kansas
(785) 632-2225

Dawn Phelps, RN/LMSW, Group Facilitator