Read Alan Thicke's touching tweet about life and death from 2012
The untimely death of actor Alan Thicke at the age of 69 shocked the entertainment world and millions of fans Tuesday night. Tributes for the late “Growing Pains” dad have flowed in on social media from fans and fellow celebrities since the news broke.
Now, a four-year-old tweet from Thicke himself is prompting reflection and providing comfort to some of those mourning him. On May 29, 2012, Thicke posted an anonymous quote about the importance of living life to the fullest before “death comes to you like a thief in the night.”
Live life so completely that when death comes to you like a thief in the night, there will be nothing left for him to steal. (anon.)
— Alan Thicke (@Alan_Thicke) May 29, 2012
Thicke died from a heart attack on the evening of December 13, 2016.
He’s not the only celebrity to share a thought-provoking sentiment prior to passing away. Shortly before poet Maya Angelou’s death in May 2014, she tweeted these much-shared words of wisdom: “Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.”
Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.
— Maya Angelou (@DrMayaAngelou) May 23, 2014
And in February 2015, actor Leonard Nimoy, known for playing Spock in “Star Trek,” shared a quote about remembering “perfect moments” in life, just four days before his death.
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015