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Talking about Death - Why is it so Hard for ALL of us?
BEING MORTAL - PBS SPECIAL ON FRONTLINE - DR. ATUL GAWANDE
Why do we not talk about death? What makes it so taboo? And then when a dire illness or catastrophe strikes we feel ill equipped to make even the most basic of decisions?
I believe that our unwillingness to discuss death – our fixation on it being a morbid subject – leads to the circular discussion of “if we talk about death we will die”.
YES WE WILL DIE – EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WILL DIE. We just don’t know when.
Fixate on it? No no no. Please realize that talking about it when things are wonderful and life feels perfect is a great time to make plans and put them to pen. Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande has a series on FrontLine (PBS) that show us his findings as to why even doctors have such a hard time facing death. “Aging and dying are the two things we can’t fix” he says. That being said, doctors are trained to believe that if they work hard enough – study a problem hard enough – that they can find a solution.
There is not a solution for every medical issues – and certainly not for aging. Are you wanting to be “living to your end” or “fighting to your end?” There is a big difference in those two.
Please view the PBS well done documentaries.
Why do we not talk about death? What makes it so taboo? And then when a dire illness or catastrophe strikes we feel ill equipped to make even the most basic of decisions?
I believe that our unwillingness to discuss death – our fixation on it being a morbid subject – leads to the circular discussion of “if we talk about death we will die”.
YES WE WILL DIE – EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WILL DIE.
We just don’t know when.
Fixate on it? No no no. Please realize that talking about it when things are wonderful and life feels perfect is a great time to make plans and put them to pen.
Surgeon and writer Atul Gawande has a series on FrontLine (PBS) that show us his findings as to why even doctors have such a hard time facing death. “Aging and dying are the two things we can’t fix” he says. That being said, doctors are trained to believe that if they work hard enough – study a problem hard enough – that they can find a solution.
There is not a solution for every medical issues – and certainly not for aging. Are you wanting to be “living to your end” or “fighting to your end?” There is a big difference in those two.
Please view the PBS well done documentaries.
also
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.