A different way to think about death

[Magna]

One of our greatest fears as humans...our own death.

A person who lives to be 96 years only has around 5,000 weeks of life. A person with only ten years left to live...around 500 weeks of life left.

While death isn't an illness, per se... I thought of it today: Death is like a terminal illness. Thinking of it that way doesn't make me feel bad. Why? What do people who have terminal illnesses usually do?

> They try first and foremost to find a cure, to get better. However...if this isn't an option or possible (as in the case of death)...
> They usually then try to live a healthy life in order to prolong their life as long as they can.
> Above all, and this is key for me....terminally ill people usually value their remaining life differently than they did prior to being ill. They generally appreciate the time they do have left with more intensity than those who take their life for granted.

Live life accordingly.

 

[Progster]

I thought of it today: Death is like a terminal illness.

Yes, I agree, except that I think that rather than death being a terminal illness, life is a terminal illness. I resent the feeling of boredom deeply, because it is literally a waste of time.

 

[Mr. Stevens]

It is definitely good to have a positive view of death. I would call it a gift.

 

[Wolfnox]

Made peace with death long ago. Have lived with it a long time. I’ll be an old man before meeting it.

 

[All-Rounder]

One of our greatest fears as humans...our own death.

A person who lives to be 96 years only has around 5,000 weeks of life. A person with only ten years left to live...around 500 weeks of life left.

While death isn't an illness, per se... I thought of it today: Death is like a terminal illness. Thinking of it that way doesn't make me feel bad. Why? What do people who have terminal illnesses usually do?

> They try first and foremost to find a cure, to get better. However...if this isn't an option or possible (as in the case of death)...
> They usually then try to live a healthy life in order to prolong their life as long as they can.
> Above all, and this is key for me....terminally ill people usually value their remaining life differently than they did prior to being ill. They generally appreciate the time they do have left with more intensity than those who take their life for granted.

Live life accordingly.

Very inspirational words, I got a ding-ding-ding in my brain as I started to realize I don't value moments as much as I could, especially being still not old, when the physical illnesses are going to gather and make life harder.

The hatred and discrimination others spill on me tends to last a while, I know I should keep reminding myself not to worry about tomorrow and live in the moment.

I used to fear death intensely, it's a horrific image if you focus on all the possibilities of dying, but if you look at it from a functional perspective it's not that bad and it doesn't last forever. Most death is quicker than we imagine.

Then you can hope for a true retirement, who wants to live forever?

 

[Metalhead]

Komm Susser Todd

Ok, maybe that sentiment is too unhealthy.

Death comes to us all, I just want it to happen fifty years from now from me, probably after a brilliant day of playing Halo in the nursing home with my fellow gaming bros, painlessly in my sleep.

After I die, I want to be cremated and have my ashes dumped out of an airplane while the song It’s Raining Men is playing.

 

[SusanLR]

The bumper sticker said it all:
Life's a B... and then you die.

The big unknown, thus the fear.

 

[Richelle-H]

I do not fear nor do I dwell on death anymore. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I was knocking on that door and could have crossed that threshold but for the fact that I was in the hospital at the time (there is some irony in there somewhere), and I had the benefit of two pulmonary specialists to keep me breathing.

Death is an annoyance to those who enjoy life because it always interrupts something you would rather be doing.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

One of our greatest fears as humans...our own death.

A person who lives to be 96 years only has around 5,000 weeks of life. A person with only ten years left to live...around 500 weeks of life left.

While death isn't an illness, per se... I thought of it today: Death is like a terminal illness. Thinking of it that way doesn't make me feel bad. Why? What do people who have terminal illnesses usually do?

> They try first and foremost to find a cure, to get better. However...if this isn't an option or possible (as in the case of death)...
> They usually then try to live a healthy life in order to prolong their life as long as they can.
> Above all, and this is key for me....terminally ill people usually value their remaining life differently than they did prior to being ill. They generally appreciate the time they do have left with more intensity than those who take their life for granted.

Live life accordingly.

You are right, death brings a new perceptive, firstly I guess it makes you understand everything you took for granted before you got ill and also it can make u more aware to appreciate the time you have left no matter how unwell. And I always say about life is it not about the quantity but the quality. Of course if you are sick it will be miserable in terms of the way you feel however a person can live long and be miserable their whole life, I have seen in from family members or wondered whether they had any joy in their lives but you can live a short life and still make a difference somehow or be loved generally for you which a lot of people who live longer may not experience either.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

I do not fear nor do I dwell on death anymore. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I was knocking on that door and could have crossed that threshold but for the fact that I was in the hospital at the time (there is some irony in there somewhere), and I had the benefit of two pulmonary specialists to keep me breathing.

Death is an annoyance to those who enjoy life because it always interrupts something you would rather be doing.

I'm glad u do not fear but i am sorry you no longer enjoy life.
I do not fear it either i wish I could just know what it was like or have some peace in my soul. I fear the unknown.
I would be happy to go at any time too but definitely chose joy no matter what, if only I could be left alone to have some self compassion and peace, not slaughtered to death and made to understand things I do not and should not have to being so sick. Dying is a very delicate time in your life and respect and compassion should be shown.
As well it is nice to have some support but if not then at least u should not have to worry all the time and be made to feel awful each last day.
Terminally ill people should not have to worry about anything, other than managing symptoms and having some peace before death.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

The bumper sticker said it all:
Life's a B... and then you die.

The big unknown, thus the fear.

Yes unknown causes fear because you do not know what to expect at all. And I know in some ways but not in the way I need.

 

[Richelle-H]

I'm glad u do not fear but i am sorry you no longer enjoy life.

I never meant my post's takeaway to be that I do not enjoy life. I enjoy it all the more because it was taken away from me for a bit longer than a day. Imagine not being there or you for even a moment. Not being and then being again was like a different sort of birth experience, as it took a frustrating period of time to reconnect my brain's ability to communicate through speech.

 

[AGXStarseed]

Ironically, watching Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has helped with my own fear of death somewhat; the animated subject handling the subject in a very mature way while giving us a genuinely intimidating villain.

If you haven't watched it, I recommend it.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

I never meant my post's takeaway to be that I do not enjoy life. I enjoy it all the more because it was taken away from me for a bit longer than a day. Imagine not being there or you for even a moment. Not being and then being again was like a different sort of birth experience, as it took a frustrating period of time to reconnect my brain's ability to communicate through speech.

I can imagine it because I had a period where I was not me.
I do not know why but I was unwell and on antipsychotics and I had personality numbing and I could not access my full self for whatever reason.
It has been so hard to regain my full self and there sometimes still seems like a few gaps and I wonder why.
So the reality is I am a lot happier since I regained myself again so I can relate to that I just am at the stage of my life where I am still unwell and would like to experience some peace instead of so much stress because I have a stress disorder.
I am so sorry you lost ur speech and went through something similar, autistics can experience a lot of health problems, it is something I have heard from other autistics too.
We are just sensitive souls in our brains, functioning and bodies.
So I am glad u still feel good awakening in the morning, me I chose joy each day too buy I wish I could feel some more peace instead or so many destructive habits because of my lasting trauma and illness and bpd.

 

[Magna]

And I always say about life is it not about the quantity but the quality.

^ This is a good point. I know someone who is elderly and in a handful of years will be a centenarian; they have needed professional care in a facility for about three years now. Maybe the person could pass on soon or they could just as easily live another five years or more. The person's quality of life is about as bad as it gets while still having their daily needs met and cared for.

 

[Legend In My Own Mind]

I will likely always fear death...until it actually occurs.

I use it, knowing my time is limited and I have MUCH to do - A real tinhorn genius will seek opportunities to improve the human condition, however it manifests itself.

It's also how I fight BOREDOM. I recently resigned from my town's Planning and Zoning Commission. I realized there are some in the administration who have betrayed our hard work and earnest hearts...

...I'm waiting to see if my "experiment" to my district attorney results in a positive paradigm shift. If so, there will be at least one arrest.

If not, oh well onto a NEW adventure!!!

It keeps me from worrying about the ONE thing I cannot change.

 

[AprilR]

I try not to fear death bc it is a natural thing. Some thing that is natural and bounds all living things can't be bad. For many people living painful and inescapable lives death may be salvation.