Life Is a Gift: Inspiration from the Soon Departed

In candid interviews, terminal patients in the Alive Hospice program talked with authors Bob and Judy Fisher, addressing some of the most important questions we ask about our life and how we've made the journey. These end-of-life ponderings are collected into inspirational and provoking thoughts that will encourage each of us to live life fully. Each story is reflected in thematic chapters-priorities, family, simple pleasures, romance, integrity, regret, forgiveness-crafted into a series of "lessons learned," offering motivation to approach life with more vigor. These powerful stories deliver the clear message that if you wait to really live until you know you are going to die, you risk missing much of the joy life has to offer and the chance to leave a positive legacy.

Robert Fisher has been a university professor, dean, academic vice president, and has served as president of Belmont University in Nashville for the past six years. He is a Fulbright Scholar and serves in numerous volunteer roles including serving on the NCAA Division I Board and Executive Committee, the board of the Nashville Symphony, and is the current Chairman of the Greater Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Judy Fisher has filled the roles of mother, Middle School science teacher, and currently, the campus-wide coordinator of interior construction and external landscaping/lighting at Belmont University. Judy conducted the large majority of the interviews for this project. Judy is active in community service where she serves on several non-profit boards including the American Lung Association, the Nashville Opera, and most notably, the board of Alive Hospice.