I did warn you that we would be delving deeper!
This was a subject which I almost avoided, as isn't that what most of us do? Avoid talking about it? Avoid even thinking about it? For something which affects and eventually comes to us all it is the definitive elephant (elephant's graveyard?) in the room. I guess the thinking behind the head-in-the-sand technique is the knowledge that no matter how much we talk about it; death - when it will happen, how it will happen, what it will feel like, and the ultimate question of what life if any exists beyond - is an undiscoverable unknown; with even the experiences of people who have been clinically can be explained away as physical and not spiritual reactions. Facing up to the fear death with no end to uncertainty, is no fun; so why talk about it eh? Anyway; for what it's worth, here is my take on the ultimate journey.
For starters, let's have no illusion on the matter; dying scares the crap out of me. For some people it's the build-up, for others it's the actual act (?!) of dying, and being aware of it; for me it is simply the thought of not being alive any more. I love being alive, being conscious, thinking, exploring, moving, existing in and being part of this world. Life is a huge gift which I have never and will never take lightly, and not being part of the world, not even being aware of....well.....anything....is a thought which at best is a bit scary, and at worst is truly terrifying.
I sound like a true atheist don't I? (when you die, you die, and that's your chips mate!); but in actual fact I'm a Roman Catholic (hardly the way I should be talking, I know, life ever-lasting and all that!). So many religions, sects, spiritual beliefs are out there; each with their own versions of life after death (ascending souls, reincarnation, heaven), and I truly hope that such a life exists. I will even go as far as to say that there are so many interesting, believable - and not to mention spooky - stories out there which could be called 'evidence' that death is not the end; to make me hope that consciousness, awareness, life, goes on.
My mind and spirit is open with regards to this subject which if not tainted with apprehension would be incredibly fascinating to contemplate. I am realistic about all the things that might happen, as I am about the fact that there is only one way we will ever truly know. One thing I can say, is that talking about it (see the above) is a really cleansing experience. The unknown it may be, but death is one of the few things which unites every living being on the earth (I think that's pretty cool) - whether you a celebrity, the president of the United States, or even a Business Development Manager from Stevenage - and when it comes to our particular human living being I am totally convinced that we are similarly united in our fear of it, our attitude towards it. Shouldn't be anything stopping us talking about then should there?!
Death is inevitable; one of the few things which we can do nothing about, yet we still have a choice in front of us. We can choose now, to live well, and die well; the definitions of which I would imagine will be different for us all. I hope I live up to my own expectations, and more importantly when my time comes, I hope I am ready, and have as they say 'left it all on the field'.
"Hold nothing back, put it all on the line. Don’t end the game feeling like you could have given more. Don’t leave feeling like you played it safe when you had the opportunity for something greater."
Not a bad motto to live - or indeed die! - by.
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