Oliver Sacks, 81, recently learned he has terminal cancer. Sacks is a professor of neurology at the New York University School of Medicine. He also is the author of books such as Awakenings, the true story of his treatment of patients awakening from sleep after decades. The book was made into a movie starring Robert de Niro and Robin Williams. As a doctor, he knows much of death. But that is not what Sacks is focused on for his remaining days.

In an op ed piece in the New York Times, Sacks tells of his predicament and describes his response.

I have to live in the richest, deepest, most productive way I can.

Over the last few days, I have been able to see my life as from a great altitude, as a sort of landscape, and with a deepening sense of the connection of all its parts. This does not mean I am finished with life.

Read the rest of my take on this and a little more of Sack’s words  on a blog post I shared on LinkedIn.