I've also tried to prepare for and make peace with death 'cause you never know when your time on this beautiful planet is up! (And agreed, the euphemisms stink.) A great related read that I've recommended to many is Atul Gawande's Being Mortal.
Well said. Look forward to reading more if you care to share any further ponderings on the one thing that every single one of us will experience.
I hate euphemisms, particularly that of "putting one's dog to sleep". When my last girl died she did not go to sleep. I had to instruct the vet to end her life, quickly, painlessly, before cancer destroyed her quality of life. I did not send her to "zzzz's". I arranged her death. And that hurts like hell (still, after some years) which is why most people prefer to say something more gentle, to avoid the truth of the situation.
Gentle ear scritch to Milo (if he would enjoy it).
Hi Shanna, I enjoyed this entry and have shared it. I too often muse, without total dread about death. Hard not to as I watch it ripple through the populace taking some people I know and care for along in the undertow.
(On time passing, I like to say, time´s fun when you´re having flies. ;) And yes, I am horrified to have made it this far! I would have liked to checked out about ten years ago. As my physical form deteriorates, so does my desire to stick around this earthly delusion.
So thought provoking! Good one. Such a deep subject. And one of my faves. Contrary to most, I love death in all its weirdness and gruesome glory. (I have worked in mortuaries.) I look forward to it.
I have longed for it many a time. I do not believe we were designed to live as long as we do. And I do hope that death will take me to a better place. Free from physical suffering at least. (People say this either denying that there might be a hell or that the deceased might go there! Could go either way, ´eh?!) I am hoping for blissful oblivion.
And again, unlike most, I do hope to slip away to greet it, alone and yes, in my sleep.
Have you ever seen the movie Gross Point Blank? It is hilarious. About choosing when we die, "...Yeah, we we all got to go sometime, but we can choose when. "No one chooses when."
Who really knows for sure? If you have not seen it, check it out. It is a laugh fest.
What makes you think that you will cease to exist when you die? According to science, (Einstein) matter can not be created or destroyed, it just changes form. And certainly you will be remembered on this plane.
There are so many great books and sites about death. The Good Death, by Ann Neumann. The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh. And by Caitlin Doughty, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Her handle is also TheGoodDeath. She is a super advocate for cremation and better death in general.
Yup, I could wax poetic about death all day.
And as much as I need new slippers, I think I am with you and will pass on the ones in the mangled translation!
My mum has this reputation for being maudling when anyone dies! I call her Mrs Doom & Gloom! It's as though she laps it up being dramatic!! Yes, we all end up the same way, no way of avoiding it! I'm not afraid of it, if I came close to it though, I probably would say the opposite!! Enjoyed the vlog with Andrew! Thanks for thinking about me, I'm stoked! As you Americans would say!! xx
I love this, Shanna! I cringe every time I hear someone use the term "passed" to talk about death. I'm an English professor (or I was; I just retired!) and I always have to tell my students to use the word "die" when they write about a character. I agree with you--don't turn away from death. It's the one thing we all share.
Oh, Shanna. This one got me. I've had my whole life to think this one over--my mom died when I was a kid, and my sister and I must've heard every euphemism possible, all with the intent, I suppose, of somehow making it gentler. As if it could ever be gentler.
She died. People die. I couldn't agree more that loving deeply, laughing fully, and lightening up are what life is really about. If we put our focus there, then maybe we won't have to try so hard to prettify the dying.
Also: "And don’t say Shanna 'slipped away' unless I genuinely slid down a mountainside." I snort-laughed.
Your best sentence of 2021: " And don’t say Shanna “slipped away” unless I genuinely slid down a mountainside. "
I've also tried to prepare for and make peace with death 'cause you never know when your time on this beautiful planet is up! (And agreed, the euphemisms stink.) A great related read that I've recommended to many is Atul Gawande's Being Mortal.
Well said. Look forward to reading more if you care to share any further ponderings on the one thing that every single one of us will experience.
I hate euphemisms, particularly that of "putting one's dog to sleep". When my last girl died she did not go to sleep. I had to instruct the vet to end her life, quickly, painlessly, before cancer destroyed her quality of life. I did not send her to "zzzz's". I arranged her death. And that hurts like hell (still, after some years) which is why most people prefer to say something more gentle, to avoid the truth of the situation.
Gentle ear scritch to Milo (if he would enjoy it).
Yes to all of this one! And also, I think this is my favorite auto-translation yet. Though my husband was snort/cry laughing at last week's!
Hi Shanna, I enjoyed this entry and have shared it. I too often muse, without total dread about death. Hard not to as I watch it ripple through the populace taking some people I know and care for along in the undertow.
(On time passing, I like to say, time´s fun when you´re having flies. ;) And yes, I am horrified to have made it this far! I would have liked to checked out about ten years ago. As my physical form deteriorates, so does my desire to stick around this earthly delusion.
So thought provoking! Good one. Such a deep subject. And one of my faves. Contrary to most, I love death in all its weirdness and gruesome glory. (I have worked in mortuaries.) I look forward to it.
I have longed for it many a time. I do not believe we were designed to live as long as we do. And I do hope that death will take me to a better place. Free from physical suffering at least. (People say this either denying that there might be a hell or that the deceased might go there! Could go either way, ´eh?!) I am hoping for blissful oblivion.
And again, unlike most, I do hope to slip away to greet it, alone and yes, in my sleep.
Have you ever seen the movie Gross Point Blank? It is hilarious. About choosing when we die, "...Yeah, we we all got to go sometime, but we can choose when. "No one chooses when."
Who really knows for sure? If you have not seen it, check it out. It is a laugh fest.
What makes you think that you will cease to exist when you die? According to science, (Einstein) matter can not be created or destroyed, it just changes form. And certainly you will be remembered on this plane.
There are so many great books and sites about death. The Good Death, by Ann Neumann. The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh. And by Caitlin Doughty, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Her handle is also TheGoodDeath. She is a super advocate for cremation and better death in general.
Yup, I could wax poetic about death all day.
And as much as I need new slippers, I think I am with you and will pass on the ones in the mangled translation!
Take care and stay well.
My mum has this reputation for being maudling when anyone dies! I call her Mrs Doom & Gloom! It's as though she laps it up being dramatic!! Yes, we all end up the same way, no way of avoiding it! I'm not afraid of it, if I came close to it though, I probably would say the opposite!! Enjoyed the vlog with Andrew! Thanks for thinking about me, I'm stoked! As you Americans would say!! xx
I love this, Shanna! I cringe every time I hear someone use the term "passed" to talk about death. I'm an English professor (or I was; I just retired!) and I always have to tell my students to use the word "die" when they write about a character. I agree with you--don't turn away from death. It's the one thing we all share.
And yes, let's focus on living deliberately.
Oh, Shanna. This one got me. I've had my whole life to think this one over--my mom died when I was a kid, and my sister and I must've heard every euphemism possible, all with the intent, I suppose, of somehow making it gentler. As if it could ever be gentler.
She died. People die. I couldn't agree more that loving deeply, laughing fully, and lightening up are what life is really about. If we put our focus there, then maybe we won't have to try so hard to prettify the dying.
Also: "And don’t say Shanna 'slipped away' unless I genuinely slid down a mountainside." I snort-laughed.