Do you hope to make peace with death before you die?

[Taverner]

I hope I can, but for me Death is the enemy - its the dark force that stands in the way of any and all progress, spiritual, emotional and physical.

It is my enemy. I will fight it tooth and nail.

-----------------------

Your thoughts?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. I'm pretty much at peace with it now. All I want to avoid is suffering and being a burden to anyone.

[MrCoffee]

2. I'm fine with death

I'd like to live long enough to see my kids graduate, but otherwise, I'm cool with dying.

[seabeyond]

3. i already have. i was in too much of a battle with the enemy it consumed my life and thoughts

i wasnt living, enjoyin glife. the most precious gift, what i am so thankful for at such a young age is having come to peace with death adn battling it no more. i am so thankful

[av8rdave]

4. Not sure I will make peace with it

In the epic struggle between myself and death, I'm guessing the odds are overwhelmingly in death's favor. Therefore, to me it doesn't much matter if I'm at peace with it or not.

[UndertheOcean]

5. Provided you die first , and I dance on your grave , then , and only then would I make peace with

death.

Otherwise it can ##$# #$#$# #$# 2323R$##%$#%#.


Oh , why do I hate you that much ? because you are the reincarnation of Hitler.

[Taverner]

7. Wow - kinda, harsh?

[UndertheOcean]

8. Because I know it was you , you STOLE my Orange Juice !

yeah , yeah , attempt at joke was too harsh and failed , ok , I fail in online comedy.

[Taverner]

39. Sorry - its been a strange day...

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. Told this story recently, but within the last year or so I died...

.
...in the ER.
.
Very sick... very sudden... faded out as I was talking to the
examining doctor and somehow I KNEW I was dying (was told
later that it wasn't for very long before they snatched me back).
.
Had always been curious as to how I would react if I just KNEW.
.
Was afraid that I would be a hypocrite and start apologizing for
not being a Christian or something. Was embarrassing and painful
to think about.
.
My reaction?
.
"It's OK. It's OK. It's really OK."
.
.
As I said before, I don't think I channeled Jesus -- I'm pretty
sure I channeled Kurt Vonnegut.
.
.
NEXT time (if there is a next time -- I haven't given up on my
immortality yet -- there can be only One), I hope to entertain
the ER staff by clutching my chest and doing my best Redd Foxx
impression, "IT'S THE BIG ONE, ELIZABETH!! I'M COMIN' TO JOIN
YOU, HONEY!!!"
.
.
Just my luck, they'll all be too young to remember Sanford & Son.
.
.
Don't get old. It can ruin an EXCEPTIONAL exit line.
.

[sarge43]

13. Snerk.

If I'm in any condition to do so, I think my last words will be ..... "Wow. I see God and is She ever pissed at you all."

[MorningGlow]

9. Death is not my enemy

Dying is. That's what I'm afraid of--physical pain, somewhat, but mostly leaving loved ones behind. I've become deeply invested in the current fiction (this lifetime) and I don't want to leave it early--I want to see what happens and keep participating in the storyline. However, if it's in the cards for me to live a long, full life and prepare myself for departure in a timely manner, then I won't mind leaving.

I'll just come back (again) if I miss a physical incarnation so much. :P

[Taverner]

15. Thing is, I don't beleive in any kind of afterlife

After death and the "death dream" - you're gone. Fin. Mot Lao. Tot.

Of course I don't believe in a soul

[MorningGlow]

29. Well, then, you're fucked

Just kidding. :hi:

[Forkboy]

10. Already have.

[hobbit709]

11. I plan on kicking and screaming every step of the way.

[sarge43]

12. It's not death that bothers me.

I see no point in concerning myself about an inevitable. The way I may die makes me sweat razor blades.

[Taverner]

26. Most likely you won't feel much pain

As long as you have health insurance and access to painkillers

If you don't - hoo boy!

[sarge43]

30. I wish it were that simple.

Both my brother and father died in a vegetative state; Dad more or less rotted away from diabetes and a shot liver.

Mom died slowly of cancer.

I fear living{sic} into late 80's or early 90's as my parents did and like them being utterly helpless those last years.

As I said to his nurse the last time I saw my father (curled up in the fetal position, o/a 70 pounds, tubes everywhere), "There are worse things than death."

[Taverner]

32. I am sorry. If consciousness plays a part, then yes it will be painful

If sub-consciousness plays a part, then no it probably won't be. But - who knows?

[sarge43]

33. Well, if it comes to that, I do hope I'm so bombed on pain killers

and other meds that I won't care.

One of the reasons I have a "Don't even think about it" living will.

[Taverner]

34. Pain Killers when you're dying = good

My Aunt went out this way, and I can't imagine a more painless way to go out...

She suffered in life, her death shouldn't have to involve suffering :cry:

[sarge43]

35. Death should be accepted with dignity, not welcomed with relief. n/t

[Taverner]

36. Huh?

That's just evil

Not just evil but eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil

[Taverner]

37. Wait - I get it - Sorry...

Long day

[sarge43]

38. So, you know my secret, Mr Bond.

BRWAHAHAHAHAH.

[lunamagica]

14. I already have. Sometimes I feel like I'm looking forward to it

I just hope it's quick and painless. What I fear most is a long time of pain and suffering, on life support, being more of a burden.

[Sky Masterson]

16. I don't think that there is a peace to make.

If I live to be 200 I will still never be ready to go.
Probably because I don't believe in an afterlife.

[Taverner]

17. There is peace to make, not with death itself but with ourselves over death

[Sky Masterson]

19. My feeling is that the peace we make with ourselves

will vanish and not even matter once we die.
You cant take a feeling or even a thought with you in to oblivion.
We spend too much time dwelling oh shit that we have little or any control over.
I would rather spend my last moments living in the moment and not coming to terms with my mortality.

[Taverner]

20. Well, of course. All of what you say is true

But if you don't make peace with your mortality in life, you'll spend every minute you think about it in a miserable state

[Sky Masterson]

22. Anything we worry about puts us in a miserable state.

So don't worry about it and you'll be happier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHFDa9efCQU

[SCantiGOP]

18. tale of two outlooks

My father and his family growing up were not at all religious. In fact, when he signed up for the Marines in WWII he had to list a religion, and since the closest church to his house was Methodist that's what he listed. My Mother was devout Irish Catholic, and when they married in 1940 he had to sign a statement swearing that the children would be raised Catholic, which we were but he never attended church (except for weddings and funerals of course). They died within six months of each other in 2006.
The last time I saw my Dad he was in pretty bad shape. I said, "You have to get better so you can go home." He responded, "If going home means I can still drive my car and get around on my own, fine. Otherwise, I've had a good long life and don't fear dying."
My Mother, who was in the early, mild stages of dementia, was terrified! I think she was questioning all that guilt the Catholic Church puts on you and whether she was going to get into heaven or if there was a heaven. I've thought about their two approches to the end a lot.

[Taverner]

21. Part of the reason why I cite Atheism as a reason for less fear of death

When I was a Christian, every day I worried a few times, with absolute fear and loathing, about my mortality

When I gave up on god, that fear and loathing went away

I am MAKING peace with my mortality

I still have issues

But I'm getting there

One could never say that about my Christian self

[RFKHumphreyObama]

23. I would welcome death

Don't interpret that as meaning I would endorse suicide

But at a stage of my life when I seemingly have nothing really of value to live for, I do not see death as an obstacle to progress of any kind and instead as a new beginning. I have made peace with death long ago

[Taverner]

25. I agree with most of that - - except the "new beginning" part

Death is an end, not a beginning

[taught_me_patience]

24. I really really hope my last thought won't be one of regret

shit... I get sad thinking about that.

[Taverner]

27. That would not be good

Although, if it is, you won't remember it anyway - because you won't exist

[Old Troop]

28. Well, I don't know about peace. I've been shot, had malaria and stage 4

lymphoma. I've found that having a fake ID really fucks death up.

[wickerwoman]

31. I hope to deny it exists until the last nail is hammered home.

But if I was terminally ill and in pain, I wouldn't hang in there no matter what. It's the quality that matters, not the length.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

49. I couldn't agree more with this

<But if I was terminally ill and in pain, I wouldn't hang in there no matter what. It's the quality that matters, not the length>

[Riftaxe]

40. Since it is inevitable, why worry about it?

That seriously is my attitude, death is the great equalizer and there is no avoiding it, and i have enough gray hair from worrying about things within my control :)

[Taverner]

41. This is not natural to everyone, you know...

[Riftaxe]

42. I think it is something learned with age,

i mean there has to be some benefit from putting up with the other deficiencies age brings along :P

[Taverner]

43. I would hope...

But this is no assurance

[Riftaxe]

44. The other option is fatalistic

If you look at friends who have died for no reason, etc. You perhaps might dwell on the futility of life. I have seen friends in perfect health die while jogging of all things, i have seen other friends die in acts ranging from tragedy to stupidity.

Coming to grips with life being an ephemeral thing can take you down a few paths, i just choose acceptance.

[Taverner]

46. Logic makes me choose acceptance

But my psyche rails against this - wanting immortality

Fatal design flaw of beings - they are finite beings seeking immortality

This is ALL life, not just humans

Of course, this is good Evolution - rather evolution that keeps the organism alive long enough to procreate - which is the ultimate determiner in the end

[NJCher]

45. win-win situation

Well, you can't lose on this one. If there is an afterlife, it's a (maybe) pleasant surprise.

If there isn't, you won't know about it.




Cher

[Taverner]

47. But its not win/win

Lets just say you make a lot of choices based on religious superstition because of trying to gain this afterlife

Is that a life wasted or not - I'm sure you know my answer

[nickinSTL]

48. I've never had a problem with the idea of death

I'm not keen on the dying part, as I don't much like pain, but death doesn't bother me. Never has.

It's a natural part of life :shrug:

[Deep13]

50. No need to make peace with it.

It's just a fact of life. There's a beginning and an end. My subjective feelings on the matter are irrelevant because it will happen regardless.

I'm sure my last thought will be, "I wish I had spent more time at the office" or "I wish I had worried about money some more."

[Taverner]

51. Well yeah, until it happens to YOU

And at that point, you'll wish you made peace with it - but not for long...

[triguy46]

52. I have no fear of death.

[RandomThoughts]

53. I would want death to make peace with itself and return to life n/t