| To me, death is a teacher whose wisdom and | | | | find the argument seems pointless to me and I |
| simplicity can be awe-inspiring. Humanity, as | | | | just want to quickly resolve it or just drop |
| a whole, fears death; however, death is | | | | it completely. |
| inevitable. For as an old saying goes, you | | | | |
| can win a million battles with death, but | | | | Forgiveness sometimes is easier for people to |
| death only has to win once. | | | | address. Some things become easier to forgive |
| | | | and some people seek to let others know they |
| This resistance to an inevitable part of | | | | are forgiven. Others seek forgiveness for |
| nature brings a certain amount of pain and | | | | past wrongs. |
| discomfort. When we come into this life, we | | | | |
| are already starting to die as the sands of | | | | Some find that the physical world itself |
| our life start to run. So many people see | | | | doesn't matter as much as spiritual |
| death as the enemy; these dame people don't | | | | development, and hence, they lose much of |
| always live life, which is an entirely | | | | their attachment to this world. Death |
| different focus. | | | | standing very close to you makes much of the |
| | | | physical world and its activities seem very |
| Long ago, I realized that what we focus on | | | | temporary and trivial, while some of the |
| tends to have a strong influence on our | | | | trivial now seem much more important. |
| everyday lives. So one day I decided to focus | | | | Unexpectedly, you may want to take the time |
| on life...instead of my inevitable death. I | | | | to see a sunrise and experience other simple |
| found that in trying to live life to the | | | | pleasures. |
| fullest, the idea of death bothered me less | | | | |
| and less. Then, by keeping death as a | | | | I believe death has been my teacher in |
| companion and teacher instead of my enemy, I | | | | showing me what is really important. I am |
| found true living and a new perspective that | | | | actually quite young (28), so as my peers are |
| lays the foundation for a smooth transition | | | | trying to make a name for themselves, |
| later when my time comes. | | | | accumulating money and possessions and |
| | | | working 50+ hours a week, I find that the |
| Death became a great teacher of life. Death | | | | extra money and other dangling carrots do not |
| teaches perspective and priority. How many | | | | appeal to me. For me, time to do the things I |
| times have we heard of people who radically | | | | now see as important is more valuable than |
| change their lives and lifestyles after | | | | money. I try to spend time wisely instead of |
| surviving a life-threatening situation or | | | | squandering it and wasting it. |
| after having a near-death experience? Once | | | | |
| you see death face-to-face, life takes on a | | | | I am living my life to the fullest. I try to |
| whole new look and feel. One way to allow | | | | squeeze every ounce of life form each second |
| death to teach us is to remember that death | | | | from each day. Regrets have become a thing of |
| is always on your left shoulder, just behind | | | | the past with death as my teacher. If only I |
| you. This is similar to thinking that this | | | | did this instead of chickening out, death |
| will be your last day, week, or month. The | | | | tells me "carpe diem, my friend." With death |
| problem with this exercise is that if you | | | | at my shoulder, I tend to seize the day more |
| only have a month to live, you would leave | | | | often, for I am willing to take that chance |
| nothing in reserve. For example, if all the | | | | because this may be my last chance. This is |
| money you have would only have to last a | | | | not to say I have become reckless, but the |
| month, you could spend everything, liquidate | | | | risks and costs appear differently. |
| your assets, and live very well, doing | | | | Procrastination diminishes for the same |
| whatever you whish for the remaining month. | | | | reason. What needs to get done is done |
| The odds are that you will live past the | | | | because I may not have another chance. |
| month, so obviously this method has flaws. | | | | |
| But thinking that death is just past your | | | | In living this way, I foresee that when my |
| left shoulder, a constant companion, also | | | | time comes, I will not leave as much to be |
| changes your perspective: | | | | done as I would have. And in all likelihood, |
| | | | I will not hesitate to accept death's hand |
| For some, the drive for fame and accumulation | | | | when he gestures that it is my time. |
| of wealth no longer looks as appealing | | | | |
| compared to issues of family. | | | | Death, for me, is not to be feared. It is a |
| | | | teacher and companion. In the end, death will |
| For others, petty arguments cease. For | | | | release me from a frail body, a painful |
| example, the next time you are in an | | | | injury, or however I leave this world, and |
| argument, just glance over your left shoulder | | | | usher me to a new beginning. In the meantime, |
| and sense death standing there. Many times, I | | | | I live life to the fullest. |