Wilko Johnson is dying, and he says he has never felt better.

On the 10th January 2013, the news was out that Wilko Johnson, former member of Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury and the Blockheads, had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. In a statement, his manager said that Wilko had refused to have chemotherapy, and was going to spend his last few months of good health touring the UK, on the ultimate of farewell tours.

Ten months later, and Wilko was receiving an award, and joking that the farewell tour was going to get embarrassing if it extended into the next year.

Now in 2014, and Wilko has just released a new album with Roger Daltrey, and is set to go on another tour, this time in Japan.

The guitarist, described by Graham Coxon as having a “literally white knuckle telecaster abuse” style of playing, has said he has never felt so alive, since being told he is going to die.

I deeply admire Wilko Johnson for making the decision to fill his final days with life, and purpose. But sometimes it seems to me that living is harder than dying.

Alastair Campbell, in his book, The Happy Depressive, talks about the pursuit of happiness. Campbell suffered a serious breakdown over twenty-five years ago, and has suffered with bouts of depression since. For him, happiness is not something that can ever be achieved until the end of one’s life: “For me happiness is not about moments – though they can build towards it – but about fulfilment over time.”

It’s a cliche, but I’m going to say it anyway: Life is a journey. And the ultimate destination is the final stop on that journey.

It seems to me that we fill our lives with false destinations along the way.

If only I could get that job, I would be happy.

If only we could afford that house, then we’d be happy.

Once I am married, I will be fulfilled.

When I have signed that six figure publishing deal, life will be complete. (Yeah, that’s mine!)

But life isn’t like that. Happiness can be a fleeting feeling, easily ruined by an ill word, a sudden change in circumstance, or a gradual settling into a dull routine.

Perhaps it would do us good sometimes, to stop and remind ourselves that one day, we too shall die. And rather than letting this fact plunge us into depression, we should celebrate it, and use it to propel us on, and make every day count for something.

That’s what Wilko Johnson is doing. And it seems to be working for him.

 

If you’re a believer in eating your five a day, take a look at the ‘Five a day’ recommendation for general well being, by the New Economics Foundation.

Connect with people around you.

Be active.

Take notice – be curious and aware of the world around you.

Keep learning – try something new.

Give – do something nice for a friend or a stranger.

And remember to eat your greens!