Facing the Fear: Dealing With Loss and Death

If I were to die tomorrow, what would I do differently today?

I know we have all pondered this question in the past. At least for fun in a small group of intimate friends. And we probably thought about traveling the world, finding world peace, giving all our money to charities, things like that. But really, if someone were to tell you that you are going to sleep tonight and there is no tomorrow, how would you spend your day?

Death seems like something far away. But is it really?

We are so myopic and self centered, that we fear death as if it were a punishment or an end to all that we are.

I have thought about this a lot over the last 5 years, and strangely, many young friends and co-workers of mine have died during this time. Death is all around us, every day. And we act like we have forever to get done what we need to do – learn everything we need to learn.

A few weeks ago, my assistant went on a vacation to Mexico. She dabbled in an array of Plant medicines and even the Amazonian Frog toxin called Kambo. She set out on this journey to enlighten, to grow and to expand her soul. She was curious about her demons, and how she could live a more advanced existence on this planet. But she never came back.

Complications with the ceremony, and the medicines, ended her life.

Dealing with death

I couldn’t cry. Shock and confusion took hold of me, but I didn’t feel sad. So, I wondered if there was something wrong with me that I don’t mourn her death.

Her life was so full, she traveled the world many times over, made close relationships, and loved her family completely. She was an adventurer, never said no to a challenge or a new idea, expanded her depths with meditation and purpose. She made everyone in her life feel like they were the light of her day. She lived life fully each day as if it were her last.

So, I don’t feel bad about her death, I feel joy for her life. She was only 35 years old, and perhaps she hit the pinnacle of her time here on earth?

Perhaps it’s not how long we live, but how we live that makes the difference in how we feel about or fear death.

If someone were to tell me that today is my last day, and tomorrow won’t be for me, I would graciously say goodbye.

For I have lived a great life.