Sonia Todd of Moscow, Idaho, died of cancer at the young age of 38. But knowing the end was near, she decided to write her own obituary before passing away. As she explained, obituaries were usually written a couple of different ways that she simply didn’t care for. So, as one of her last acts on this earth, she put pen to paper and decided for herself how her obituary would read.
The result of Sonia confronting her own mortality as she penned her obituary was a piece full of humor as well as wisdom, appearing in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. The words were so honest and inspirational that long after her death, they will still ring true, giving others something to aspire to. Ironically, Sonia wrote, “I never really accomplished anything of note.” How wrong she was. The truth expressed in the obituary she wrote proved to be quite an accomplishment in and of itself.
“Other than giving birth to my two wonderful, lovable, witty and amazing sons (James and Jason), marrying my gracious, understanding and precious husband (Brian), and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior – I have done very little. None of which requires obit space that I have to shell out money for,” Sonia Todd began, explaining why she was writing her obituary and why it wouldn’t be like others.
Adding that she didn’t want a bunch of her loved ones sitting around to write a glowing report of her, which she says would be “filled with fish tales, half-truths, impossible scenarios, and out-right-honest-to-goodness-lies,” Sonia explained she simply didn’t like putting people in those kinds of situations. With the explanation out of the way, she got to her version of the truth about her own life.
“I just tried to do the best I could. Sometimes I succeeded, most of the time I failed, but I tried. For all of my crazy comments, jokes and complaints, I really did love people. The only thing that separates me from anyone else is the type of sin each of us participated in. I didn’t always do the right thing or say the right thing and when you come to the end of your life those are the things you really regret, the small simple things that hurt other people,” Sonia admitted.
Although she said that she mostly enjoyed life, she also said it wasn’t perfect and that she encountered many bumps in the road, especially in her teens and early 20s. Even though some parts of her life were harder than others, Sonia said, “I learned something from every bad situation and I couldn’t do any more than that.” She also claimed there were benefits to dying young. Jokingly, she wrote, “I still owe on my student loans and the jokes on them cuz I’m not paying them. Plus, I am no longer afraid of serial killers, telemarketers or the IRS.”Addressing the fact that some people have told her that writing her own obituary is morbid, Sonia Todd continued, “I think it is great because I get a chance to say thank you to all the people who helped me along the way. Those who loved me, assisted me, cared for me, laughed with me and taught me things so that I could have a wonderful, happy life. I was blessed beyond measure by knowing all of you. That is what made my life worthwhile.”
It was the conclusion of her obituary that was the most important, however. Sonia encouraged others to change their lives. “If you think of me, and would like to do something in honor of my memory do this: Volunteer at a school, church or library. Write a letter to someone and tell them how they have had a positive effect on your life. If you smoke – quit. If you drink and drive – stop,” she wrote.
Her advise continued, “Turn off the electronics and take a kid out for ice cream and talk to them about their hopes and dreams. Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it. Stop at all lemonade-stands run by kids and brag about their product. Make someone smile today if it is in your power to do so.”
Today seems like a good day to honor Sonia’s memory by completing some of these simple requests and reminding others to do the same. Luckily for us, we still have time for these things. And, thankfully, with her dying wish, Sonia Todd left us these words of wisdom that few realize until it’s too late
What number should replace the question mark
Cognitive puzzles have always intrigued and challenged our minds, pushing us to think outside the box. Today, we have an interesting brain teaser featuring fried eggs with an unknown number in one corner. The big question is: What number should replace the question mark?
At first glance, this puzzle might seem straightforward, but many people struggle to find the correct answer. Let’s break it down step by step, analyze common mistakes, and finally arrive at the right solution.
Try to Solve It First!
Before we dive into the solution, take a moment to analyze the image. Each fried egg pair or grouping has a number next to it, except for the last one. Your challenge is to figure out the pattern behind these numbers and determine the missing value.
So, what’s your answer? 12? 24? Something else? Let’s see if you’re right.
Common Mistakes People Make
Puzzles like this often trick people into seeing patterns that don’t actually exist or missing key details. Here are some common mistakes:
- Assuming the numbers represent the total number of yolks
Many people assume the number is simply the count of yolks in each grouping. However, if that were the case, the values would be 2, 3, 2, and 3—this doesn’t match the numbers given. - Thinking the numbers count the number of egg whites
Some might assume the numbers are based on the number of egg whites. However, we see cases where eggs are overlapping, making this unreliable. - Overcomplicating the pattern
Some puzzle solvers jump straight to complex mathematical operations before checking simpler patterns.
If you made one of these mistakes—don’t worry! Now let’s walk through the correct method to solve this.
Video : Which Number Replaces The Question Mark ??
Step-by-Step Solution: Finding the Pattern
Let’s examine the numbers given: 12, 23, and 22. Each number corresponds to a different grouping of eggs. But what do they mean?
Step 1: Count the Yolk Pairs and Their Positioning
Looking closely at each plate, we see that:
- 12 → Two yolks in one egg white.
- 23 → Three yolks in one egg white + two yolks in another egg white.
- 22 → Two yolks in each of two egg whites.
From this, we see that the numbers are NOT just counting yolks or egg whites alone.
Step 2: Understanding the Number Formation
Observing the pattern, the first digit of the number corresponds to the number of yolks in the first egg, and the second digit corresponds to the number of yolks in the second egg.
- 12 → (1 yolk in the first egg, 2 yolks in the second egg)
- 23 → (2 yolks in the first egg, 3 yolks in the second egg)
- 22 → (2 yolks in the first egg, 2 yolks in the second egg)
Step 3: Identifying the Last Number
Now, let’s apply this pattern to the final grouping, which contains 3 yolks in one egg white and no additional egg.
Following the same rule, the first digit is 3 (yolks in the first egg), and since there is no second egg, we assume the second digit is 1.
Thus, the missing number should be 13.
Final Answer: 13
After carefully analyzing the pattern, we conclude that the correct number to replace the question mark is 13. The first digit represents the number of yolks in the first egg, and the second digit represents the number of yolks in the second egg.
Did you get it right? If not, don’t worry! The key takeaway is to pay attention to patterns rather than just counting random elements.
Video : Egg Riddles
Join the Discussion!
Did you find a different pattern? Do you enjoy solving logic puzzles like this one? Share your answers and thoughts in the comments below!
If you liked this challenge, try tackling more puzzles to sharpen your logical thinking and pattern recognition skills. The more you practice, the better you get at spotting hidden patterns and solving tricky problems quickly.
So, what are you waiting for? Test your brain with another puzzle today!
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