Happy New Year: Embracing the Gift of Time

A Time of Reflection

When I was younger, I heard one of my teachers say, “Death comes when you least expect it.” Being so afraid of death as a child, I obsessed about death, almost hoping that by thinking of it and expecting it, it wouldn’t come just yet. Death is a funny thing. I’ve spent years of my life studying death and dying. And yet the finality of it, and sometimes the suddenness of it still gets me. Anyhow, back to the new year- I like to take the new year’s as a time to reflect. What have I achieved in the past year? Am I living my life according to the principles and wisdom that I want to? What areas can I improve? There is always room for improvement!

Looking Forward

Even in the face of despair and suffering in so many parts of the world, hope remains. I aim to help as many people as I can face death. Here are just a few reasons why facing death is so beneficial, and I have personally experienced the following benefits:

• Have meaning in life ~ In my own life, facing death has given me meaning in life.
• Finding inner steadiness, not caring so much about what others think ~ I won’t lie, this is not always easy. I am only human, so of course what people say can still affect me, but I always bring it back to asking myself: “In the larger scheme of things, does what they are saying actually matter?” Sometimes it takes time to shake it off, but I no longer hold grudges.
• Loving and caring more freely ~ Everyday may be the last day you see your loved ones, friends or neighbours. There’s no loss in loving and caring more freely. You’ll certainly not regret loving and caring for others. I’ve decided to live my life and treat others in a way that if I died tomorrow, my heart would be light.
• Have clearer goals ~ Knowing that time is finite helps remove the clutter. Things that aren’t as important fall away.
• Truly living ~ Most people consider “life” as just one where they are working, eating, mating, and a little bit more enjoyment here and there. Most people don’t stop and ask, “Is being ‘busy’ really living?” Ask yourself that. Palliative nurses and doctors, and also scientific studies have shown that one of the top regrets people have on their death beds is, “I wish I didn’t work as much.“

Expecting the unexpected

I was writing this yesterday (January 1, 2024) for me, but I got interrupted– long story short, one of our new friends seemed to be getting a stroke and he was asking for help to call an ambulance. Thankfully he is all good now, but he told us later that he thought he was going to die. His face was dropping, he couldn’t speak right, his hands were stiff and curling inward and he couldn’t move his body. In this world, things can truly change in an instant. That’s precisely why I think people need to face death today. Why wait to start living?

Wishing you all happiness, health, and peace!