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Continuing To Live When You Are Dying

Faced with your own mortality can be a scary thing. You're tooling along through life, enjoying your family, working and pursuing hobbies and all of the sudden, you get the worst news possible – you are dying. Having a terminal illness tends to shake things up not only in your own life but that of your family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances. Human nature dictates living life and that is what you want to do even with a terminal illness hanging over your head. So how do you continue to live while knowing that you only have a certain amount of time left?

The First Step

The first step to living the rest of your life to the fullest is acknowledging that you are going to die. Sudden announcements will produce distress and it may take a while before the numbness wears off and you can truly function again. It will take time before you can truly wrap your head around the idea that you will not live as long as you thought.

Living in the present is the best defense to not having a future. Of course you need to get your affairs in order first but after that, it is time to start compiling a list of things you would like to experience before you pass on. This will be difficult for you. You may have some days when you don't think about it and your mind wanders to the future and then suddenly your shortened mortality rears up and slaps you in the face. This prospect will likely happen quite a bit as no one ever truly wants to accept irrevocably that they are going to die.

Taking stock

The funny thing about facing your death is that it puts many things in perspective, mainly those things that you have put off like that family trip to Disney because you just couldn't get off work. You will likely question your role upon this earth and take stock on what is now truly important in your life. Discovering a new direction in life is often a given and you will start thinking differently than you used to.

You will also slow down and savor the little things a little more. Putting aside your briefcase of work to play with your children or having a date with your spouse will be a lot easier than before. Your imminent death forces you to think about the great unknown and also changes your perception about many things.

Getting Past the Shock

It will take some getting used to, the fact you will die before you are ready. Your friends and family will likely not know what to say or do. Be proactive and talk about it when you are ready to do so. Explain your plans for the rest of your life and express your wishes to spend time with each and every one of them. Make it known that you understand not everyone will be comfortable with the news at first and let them know it is ok.

Share your feelings as you see fit and are comfortable with. Express your desires about your end of life care to ensure that should you become incapacitated your wishes will be fulfilled. Be active in your medical care; research your condition and alternative forms of treatment. Many people beat the odds and live longer than predicted. Make that your goal but be realistic as well.

Find the time to say goodbye to all the important people in your life. If you have mementoes you want to pass on, do so while you are still alive and let your loved ones know why you want them to have these things. By having these precious reminders of your life passed on to them while you are still alive will mean so much more to them and to you.

Most of all, reach out to your family and friends. Let them know how much you love them. Seek their support in your final days. They will discover how much you have enriched their lives as they enrich your last days with comfort, companionship and love.