“Death’s true purpose is to teach us how to live.” – Molly Friedenfeld
I have been asked to be apart of a Donate Life Forum. It is a forum that allows the public to ask any questions they have about Organ Donation to Organ Donors, Recipients and Medical Staff. As our son was an organ donor, I will share my experiences.
This forum is just one way that allows us to explore our questions about death and why we find it so difficult to confront this topic in Western Society. Death is something that we don’t really want to think about or make decisions about if we don’t have to. Our fear surrounding death is simply because it’s outside our experience, even though we will all go there.
“Live life fully, as if everyday may be your last.”
Death creates fear because it represents uncertainty and mystery for us, but ignoring it will not help us when Death faces us or a loved one. By not thinking about dying, we assume it won’t happen to us, which seems to bring an innate sense that we will always have more time. Years pass us by in our busyness and there is so much we put off. Thinking like this, we run the risk that when we or a loved one is dying, we will regret wasted opportunities.
Death has taught me to live in the present, it has helped me see how precious life is and to appreciate those in my life. Death allowed me to focus on making responsible decisions and to see the joy in life and not all the seriousness. It showed me the past and the future are simply reflections of an everlasting now.
We are here to help each other discover our individual uniqueness. So learn to acknowledge, honour and accept death as a natural part of our journey. In doing that we discover that nothing is permanent and so we begin to understand the circle of life.
“Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.” ~Mary Manin Morrissey
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
Karen, the death of my husband has definitely taught me how to live my life. Is grief sad? Yes. Do I miss him everyday? Yes. But I was given the invaluable gift of knowing how precious life really is. Great post, I really enjoyed reading it.
Thankyou and for sharing!
Such beautiful and true words and thank you for sharing your message for we have no control over death and it comes to us all, it is nothing to be so fearful of . . . especially in talking with someone, or reaching out and hugging someone, letting them know they are not alone. You are making a difference!
Thankyou so much and for reminding us about the simple gestures we can do for one another and the impact that has for both of us.
Karen
I also have experienced what I felt was an untimely death.http://cybeleshineblog.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/remembering-that-we-are-not-alone-and-in-memory/
It’s a process, this road of grief. Death certainly brings out many questions as to why we are here, “do we have free will” or “is it written!” Mostly it brought for me the poignancy of life and “carpe diem.”
I love “carpe diem” and yes I too try to live completely in the moment.
Thankyou I will read your story today.