Lets Talk About Death
Lets Talk About Death
We are all going to die. It’s the only commonality we all have. Yet the subject of death is taboo in most American households. The use of the word “death” is all but forbidden. Sympathy cards include sentiments like “loss” or “moving on” or even “in
a better place”.
There is no guarantee as to at what age you will die. About 30% of Americans die before age 65. Death can come suddenly such as in an accident or suicide. It can be slow and prolonged like with diseases and heart issues. However, we as humans do not know our “expiration date”.
a better place”.
There is no guarantee as to at what age you will die. About 30% of Americans die before age 65. Death can come suddenly such as in an accident or suicide. It can be slow and prolonged like with diseases and heart issues. However, we as humans do not know our “expiration date”.
We live each day believing that we have a lot more days
We live each day believing that we have a lot more days – assuming that we will adhere to the actuarial tables and even outlive the expected average age of about 78.54 years. A recent study by Atlantic Magazine concluded that most Americans believe that it is best to die at about age 75 in order to avoid long, sick, unhappy old age years. That thought changes, however, once you get close to that age!
Even if the above statistics are true for you, are you living your life to maximize every day? Your “years left” on earth are
growing shorter. Do you analyze your use of every day? Or do you blindly “push through” each day believing that you will “get to it” tomorrow?
Each and every day is a gift. Use it well. Get your “bucket list” tackled daily. If you were to write your own obituary today what “holes” would there be? And if you were to write it as if you were 100 on your last day alive, how differently would that obituary look? Now is the time to rewrite your life so that the “I am going to do” list is tackled daily.
Even if the above statistics are true for you, are you living your life to maximize every day? Your “years left” on earth are
growing shorter. Do you analyze your use of every day? Or do you blindly “push through” each day believing that you will “get to it” tomorrow?
Each and every day is a gift. Use it well. Get your “bucket list” tackled daily. If you were to write your own obituary today what “holes” would there be? And if you were to write it as if you were 100 on your last day alive, how differently would that obituary look? Now is the time to rewrite your life so that the “I am going to do” list is tackled daily.
But we don’t talk about death and dying...
But we don’t talk about death and dying. We save the discussions – if they are held at all – for a medical setting when bad news is shared or for when you feel the compulsion to sit in a lawyer’s office drawing up minimal paperwork.
We are all going to die. Why can’t we make discussions on death, our wishes, our fears, our hopes, and our plans be as
If you were to talk about death as part of life with your friends and loved ones, you could get questions answered and thoughts shared in a calm and loving setting. The discussion of death should be ongoing so that you can revise your thoughts, hopes, and fears as things in your life change.
Research by countless scientists specializing on aging shows that your subjective age – that being how you feel – is more relevant that your chronological age. Simple mantras like keeping a healthy weight, maintaining a healthy diet, learning
to keep your brain growing, maintaining friendships, and setting goals allow for a long, happy, pain-free, and good life.
You know what you need to do. What is stopping you from talking about death?
We are all going to die. Why can’t we make discussions on death, our wishes, our fears, our hopes, and our plans be as
commonplace coffee klatch talk as preparing for birth or a career move or a home purchase? But we spend more time on planning a car purchase, on average, than we do about dying.
Blog Post: last day on earth
Research by countless scientists specializing on aging shows that your subjective age – that being how you feel – is more relevant that your chronological age. Simple mantras like keeping a healthy weight, maintaining a healthy diet, learning
to keep your brain growing, maintaining friendships, and setting goals allow for a long, happy, pain-free, and good life.
You know what you need to do. What is stopping you from talking about death?
We have one thing in common - we all will die!
We have countless jokes online and in person about nonstop phone calls at all hours begging you to extend your car warranty - even when you don't own a car! But we don't talk about death. AND we all have death in common!
Upon death, even if your legal paperwork is completed will there be problems? Tell others about your wishes. Make changes as often as you want but be sure your loved ones know. Problems arise when loved ones disagree. Money can do that to wills.
You don't have to discuss death daily. Yet you need to face that we all will die. Give yourself a rest sometimes but remember that each day is precious.