We’re all going to die

I’m sorry if you’re reading it hear for the first time, but, yes, it’s true. We’re all going to die.

Of all the thousands of interactions I had with older folks when I worked in the retirement community business, one that sticks out in my mind was between me and a lady who prefaced a question thusly: Now, if I should die, God forbid….

Now, I would never win a prize for being able to keep my attention focused for a long period of time, but I can’t remember what her question was now, and I probably didn’t hear it then.

If I should die, God forbid???? For an easily distracted person like me, that was a real conversation stopper.

Should I have been the one to break the news to her? If???? And, God forbid??? Most rational healthy people don’t spend a lot of time obsessing about their own deaths, but like it or not, it’s coming for all of us.

Just to put this into context, this wasn't a teenager about to embark on rock climbing trip, or a middle aged man about to go in for a heart surgery... This was a woman in her 80's moving to a retirement community.

It seems to me that once we deal with some of the taboos that exist around death than enable us to talk about it without a lot of “God forbid” prefacing, the better.

Denial of our own mortality is not a healthy thing. It leads to bad decision making, unnecessary hurt feelings, and a lot of pointless worry.

Remembering and acknowledging our mortality is a good thing. It reminds us to treat our friends and family better. It gets us making plans that will make it easier for the people who matter most to us. It brings us closer to God or whatever higher power we’re connected to.

Being okay with our mortality helps keep turkeys from hitting the deck.