The Existentialism of Rhio O' Connor

There have been moments in my life that have put me face to face with death, or at least dangled the actual possibility of becoming more acquainted than I would like to have experienced. The feeling is at once terrifying and calming. My experiences were mostly instantaneous close calls rather than a prolonged knowledge of my final day, though they remain powerful lessons to the value of my life and reality of my mortality. I've often contemplated which is worse, an instant death without the ability to say goodbye to loved ones or a longer death as with cancer where you must watch others suffer over you. Each pulls a wrenching string on the heart. However, considering the case of Rhio his will, and infectious passion for life you begin to get a real sense of what we have control over. I've always believed that this life is what you make of it, Rhio's story added depth and a powerful example by showing that we have more power over our death than we're led to believe.

Any mention of the word "cancer" makes one shiver. To most it is a death wish and as crippling to the mind as it is to the body. However, when the body remains weak, the mind may grow stronger. One is only defeated when he throws up his arms to fate and does not exercise the freedom of will which makes him human. It is when mankind is faced with the impossible or inevitable that he shines brightest and overcomes the highest peaks.

Death is a reality in which we all must face at some point and which the possibility dwells constantly on our lives. From Buddhism to Existentialism, philosophies of death bring about a greater understanding of life. It would be impossible for me to accurately say how I would react given the same diagnosis as Rhio. I could pose hypothetical situations and ways I would deal with it, and hope I would be as strong as he was. However, I have not been faced with such a prolonged reality. As mentioned above I have brushed against death and escaped only to recall the chill of its touch. Whenever considering my own death I find it to be instantly life altering. My time becomes more important; how I spend it, with whom, and the quality therein. In the Buddhist sense we're all dying and scientifically speaking we begin to die by age 28. The difference between Rhio and the rest of us is the immediacy of his condition and the acceptance of its consequences. He accepted his mortality while the rest of us ignore it. This acceptance is where the true change begins. I find it more profound to consider Rhio and myself on the same plain, because we will both reach the same end. Death is death; there is no difference in its definition. However, life is indefinable in both how we live it and its value to us. Some of us squander it away, not realizing how little time we have or really deciding on what we should be doing with our time. Philosophers have been debating what makes life worth living for millennia, but it is up to each of us to decide what it is that makes us get out of bed in the morning. Let us for the sake of the argument consider what it would be like if I did have mesothelioma, as it is quite plausible there lies dormant cancer within my cells.

If I were diagnosed with an incurable disease I feel it would intensify my life. Every meal would taste as if it were my last, every human contact would be at full depth, and I would pay no mind to social norms or restrictions of character for the sake of commerce. Again, I must emphasize that there is no reason one should not live as such, as we are all dying. However, with the diagnoses acting as a social catalyst for more authentic interaction I believe people would open up more because their consciousness of my limited time. There would be no time for beating around the bush or small talk. I would first have to decide if my life would be worth preserving. This seems an absurd question, though I believe it is the most vital. Albert Camus in his work The Myth of Sisyphus states that the most important philosophical problem is suicide or whether life is or is not worth living. This becomes even more imperative when cancer symptoms and the heightened suffering therein are considered. Is life still worth living in the face of this? Can life still be beautiful and full of happiness? If you asked Rhio I believe he would have reply with a big Yes. This Yes-saying is essential to the terminally ill as it is to us all. We all suffer, it is not suffering that makes us miserable but the inability to cope with its effects. Friedrich Nietzsche went so far as to embrace his suffering so he may grow stronger by overcoming it. I see this Nietzschean spirit in Rhio, the ability to make use of his suffering and say yes even in the face of his demise. If what doesn't kill you make you stronger than what will kill you makes you unstoppable. If I were diagnosed "incurable" I would delve into life with an insatiable passion. As I sit here now I stare into the expansion of my life with fire in my heart and a lust for embracing all that the world has to offer. To be given less time only heightens my thirst for more! The most essential task one can perform is to inspire. One's immediate actions only physically affect so much. However, their influence to inspire and motivate can move mountains and change lives for millennia.

Rhio also demonstrates the motivating power of death to innovate what was formerly deemed impossible. By creating his own form of therapy he enabled himself to customize a system that worked for his own needs. Through rigorous studying and unbreakable spirit he was able to build for himself a proactive solution. Instead of relying on experts he took the wheel and discovered uncharted territory that led to his prolonged life. This speaks volumes about his character and the potential of the human spirit. Many people find it difficult to achieve greatness with an entire lifetime of opportunity while this man was able to vitally prove himself in the final years of his life. For someone like myself with a passion for both Psychology and Philosophy Rhio provides real evidence of how one can shape themselves into something larger than life. My goal is to become a therapist who doesn't cure psychological ailments but helps individuals reach their full potential. Rhio's story will definitely help to elevate spirits of those who feel helpless.

I may have never known Rhio O' Connor, but his story lightens my soul and remains a shining beacon in an abysmal world. I see so many pitying the sick and the dying as well as people pitying their own circumstances. This causes a deep despair, sense of helplessness, and is an insult to life; however much we have of our lives still remains precious, though only as precious as we deem it! A man like Rhio sets a standard for all who suffer and must face their own mortality; to not go quietly into the night. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, it is better to find the strength necessary to overcome your situation, whatever it may be. What makes someone an inspiration is that they have risen above their expectations and soared on wings of their own creation. These are the souls who enjoy the greatest paradise on earth and who smell the sweet scents of existence with a greater appreciation than any other living being. I'd like to end with a Victor Frankl quote that chimes true, "Each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering to his own life. To life he can only respond by being responsible."