**
An American father left a will for his three-year-old child.

My father fought leukemia for a long time, but eventually passed away.

The father wrote a letter for his son to read when he grew up.
The letter was released to the American internet community in 2011.


“I hope you forgive me for being sick.
Also, please forgive me for not being there for you when you need me.

I just want you to know.
Dad really loves you.

It's so hard to write this letter because I'm crying.
When you read this letter, you can't help but cry when you think about your father being gone from this world.
Sadness weighed on my heart and tears streamed down my face.

Dad wants you to face life's problems head on, not avoid them.

That will give you a positive outlook.
Think of the bright things in life.
“Even if something bad happens, it will be okay soon.”

While his father was writing the letter, three-year-old Christopher was playing with a toy bow and arrow.

I was upset that I couldn't see that pretty face for a long time.
I felt sorry for the shadows cast on the child's bright face.
The secret to happiness that the father told his son while crying is a positive attitude.
In other words, it means to overcome misfortune by thinking about things that you are grateful for and happy about.
The father would have closed his eyes, wishing his child to be bright and happy. --- p.232~233

**
In 2018, 27-year-old Australian woman Holly Butcher had been battling for over a year to beat Ewing's sarcoma, a malignant bone tumor, but her situation was hopeless.

Holly wrote a final letter to her friends and posted it on Facebook.

In her letter, she emphasized not to step on cow dung.
For example, don't suffer because of trivial and meaningless things.

“You might be stuck in traffic today.
You may have lost sleep because the baby woke you up.
Or maybe your hairdresser cut your hair too short or you have cellulite on your stomach.

Forget all that nonsense.
When it's time to die, you never think about that.

“If you think about life as a whole, it doesn’t matter at all.”

Life is full of shit, that is, messy events.
You never know when or where something unpleasant might happen.
But we should be able to dismiss all of this as bullshit.
It's better to ignore these trivial incidents, which are nothing compared to the rest of life.

When I think about cow dung, my life becomes miserable.
You can only be happy if you know that cow dung is nothing more than cow dung. --- p.116~117

**
In 1902, an explosion occurred in a coal mine in Tennessee, USA, killing 216 miners.

Dozens of them waited for rescue, and some left letters for their families.

Miner Jacob Barwell wrote a letter to his wife.
Sadly, the miner had his 14-year-old son, Albert, by his side.
I came with my dad and got into an accident.
(…)
The letter also included 14-year-old Albert's will.
Albert, who was trapped in the coal mine, gave his favorite clothes and shoes to his younger brother.
It left a kind of legacy.
Albert's heart is tearful.

Fourteen-year-old Albert knew one thing about feeling good.

It's giving what's mine to others.
When others who receive what I have are happy, I become happy too.
Sharing is more joyful than owning.

This simple but important fact was known to the child at the end of his life. --- p.36~38

**
McNamee died of cancer in his mid-30s in 2015.
The 30s are also a bright age.

It would be a shame to leave this world, since I could live another 50 years.
Besides, McManamy's life was very happy.
She left a message for her friends.
He told me not to be sad because of him.
“I am not in heaven.
I am here with you.
My energy, my love, my laughter and all the wonderful memories are here with you.
Do not think of me with pity or sadness.

You know we had a great time together, right? Smile.
“I don’t want to make people sad.”

McManamy also made another request of his friends.

“Please grant me one favor.
Take a moment every day to remember that our wonderful lives are fleeting adventures.
Don't forget.
“Every day is precious.”

It means to often think about the fact that life can break at any time.
In other words, I wanted to say, 'Remember that you will die.' --- p.43~47

**
American Jacqueline Jean was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
She had a husband and children.
Mom Jin really wanted to live.
I wanted to somehow survive and be with my children.
So I did whatever it took.
He underwent surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, even receiving acupuncture and praying every day.

But it was no use.
Although his body was trained through triathlons, the illness was much more severe and he had to say goodbye to his beloved family.

As death approached, Jin wrote a letter to his 19-year-old daughter.


“I’m so sorry that you couldn’t live longer while you were still young.
Please know that I did almost everything to live a little longer.
My mother was spit on and prayed countless times.

But I can't live any longer.
Still, he says he has no complaints at all.
Because I've had a fantastic life while I'm alive.
I also beat a disease called melanoma.
There were also car accidents in West Virginia and Durham, but no one died.

I have already lived a long life and have spent every moment with deep gratitude.
You too, try to live with gratitude.
“You can become a happy person.”

No matter what country, a mother's heart is the same.
I want to give anything to my children.

What Jin gave to his daughter at the end of his life was the secret to a happy life.
She said that she was grateful even though she was sick, had a car accident, and passed away early.

He also urged his daughter to live life with gratitude.
Because that's how you can be happy.

My mother, who wanted to say 100 things, chose only one: gratitude.
It is a mother's last gift to her daughter whom she will never see again.

--- p.231~232