Perspective of the Dying

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I have a friend who is dying. He has a cancer that will take his life sooner than later. He isn't but in his mid-forties. and will leave behind kids that are not yet in their teens. Today he shared this: "The world takes on a different perspective when you find yourself in a position like mine. It used to be that I understood and had empathy for growing older. I felt bad about your joints always aching and your wrinkles and Viagra and such. Now, I just don't. All that stuff is a gift. Growing old is a gift. I don't feel bad for you, I envy you. Embrace and be grateful for the time you get in exchange." Now, I get what he is trying to say but I'm not sure I fully agree. I am thinking of my grandmother who spent the last 15 years of her life, losing everything she knew a piece at a time. She had Alzheimer's. I think of other people I know and how devastatingly hard it was in their last years. I know my friend will have a devastatingly hard time in his last years as well. Time, I think it is all about time. I think we need to make the most of the time we are given so that if we have to leave before we are ready we still have those moments to carry with us and leave for those that are left behind. If you die young or old, you still have limited time to work with and you never know how much you are alloted. What do you think about what my friend said and how do you keep your time well spent?