SHARE YOUR STORY

I anticipated that my father’s death would be the darkest and most depressing experience of my life, but it was exactly the opposite. It was an uplifting event and led me to live my life with greater appreciation for everything and everyone in it. I have met many people who have had a similar experience, and if we can create conversations which allow their voices to be heard, I believe the fear that surrounds death could be diminished. We also need to hear the voices of those who have witnessed people who have died peaceful and accepted deaths. The general perception, because of how death is portrayed in the media, is that everyone is in unbearable physical and emotional pain when they die. This is not true. In my Dad’s case, he accepted his fate, and when his time came he quietly left this world without a struggle; he was at peace.

I would like to invite readers of this blog to share their stories of how they were changed in a positive way by being in the presence of death, whether it’s from the perspective of a family member, a friend or a professional. Wherever you find an opportunity, I hope you will relate your experience. If enough of these stories are injected into the public discourse, perhaps we can lower the temperature of the discussion so that people in this culture can face what lies ahead without fear.