I call death, the great mystery since most of us have no idea when or how we'll die. It's a topic that few to none of us enjoy thinking about, but it's a topic that's been front and center in my mind in the last few years as I've watched the generation ahead of me take their final breaths and move on from life as we know it.
My earliest experiences related to death were mostly positive. As a child, my big loving extended family would gather to celebrate family members' lives after their deaths. The celebrations, while sad, were also joyful, warm, and welcoming because we were altogether at beautiful masses with wonderful words and music, sharing meals, and joining in traditional processions and other rituals that brought comfort.
My more recent experiences with death have been both positive and not-so-positive since the people who have died were a bigger part of my life, and their loss is felt more deeply. Also I've watched the decline of many whom I loved my entire life, and it's difficult to see people you love decline.
Yet, death is an inevitable part of life. We will all face death at some moment and in some way. With this in mind, how do we deal with death in positive ways.
Prevention
The first step with regard to death is to work to prevent undesired and too-early deaths with all kinds of prevention--prevention of accidents, health risks, diseases, and more. Good, healthy living prevents a good deal of premature deaths.
Strong relationships
Nurturing strong, close relationships with friends and relatives helps us to weather deaths well. When we are surrounded by people who we love and that love us, we are much stronger when tough life events such as death occur.
Living a good life
Making time to be intentional about the lives we live, and living our best possible lives for ourselves and others, I believe, helps us to accept our own deaths and the deaths of others with greater peace.
We can't prevent death--it happens, but we can ease the burden of death in our lives via prevention, strong relationships, and living a good life. Onward.
