Astrid Stawiarz \/ Thomas Cooper, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> He then told his daughters he wanted to leave them with four lessons his illness had taught him.<\/p>\n 1. Live in the Present<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cFirst, live now, right now in the present. It\u2019s hard, but I learned to do that,\u201d Dane said.<\/p>\n He admitted that for years he had been consumed by worry, replaying decisions and second-guessing himself. But facing ALS forced him to stay grounded in the present.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Anne Burrell Update: Police Report Confirms Troubling Note Found in Bedroom After Her Death<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe past contains regrets and the future remains unknown,\u201d he said, explaining that the only way forward is to treasure the moment in front of you.<\/p>\n 2. Fall in Love With Something<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSecond, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something,\u201d he told them.<\/p>\n Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images<\/span><\/p> Dane said he fell in love with acting<\/a> when he was their age \u2014 and that passion carried him through decades of work.<\/p>\n \u201cFind your passion, your joy. Find the thing that makes you wanna get up in the morning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 3. Choose Your Friends Wisely<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThird, choose your friends wisely. Find your people and allow them to find you, and then give yourselves to them.\u201d<\/p>\n As his illness progressed, Dane said his friends \u201cstepped up\u201d for him \u2014 even as he could no longer do the everyday things he once took for granted, like driving or going to the gym.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>40 Great Father-Daughter Dance Songs for a Country Fan\u2019s Wedding<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cJust show up,\u201d he said. \u201cLove your friends with everything you have. Hang on to them. They will entertain you, guide you, support you \u2014 and some will save you.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Fight \u2014 With Dignity<\/strong><\/p>\n His final message was about resilience.<\/p>\n Finally, fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight. Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dane told his daughters they had inherited his strength.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my superpower,\u201d he said. \u201cI bounce right up, and I keep coming back. I get up again and again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n Growing emotional, he ended with a direct message: \u201cBillie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.\u201d<\/p>\n Cancer has touched so many lives in the country music community, it’s only natural that this devastating illness is at the center of many songs. If you’re fighting cancer, supporting someone who is or if you’ve beaten the disease, there’s a song on this list for you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Watch Eric Dane’s Full Message to His Daughters:<\/h3>\n
11 Heartbreaking Country Songs About Cancer<\/h2>\n