re: At what age do you really start realizing death is gonna happen in your own life?

I think I was 8. Classmate's dad got blown off the back of an aircraft carrier, and my mom pulled her out of class 3 hours after she told me she had to do a notification. Navy in peacetime was dangerous AF.

It was another ten years before I learned something important from Murphy: "Anything you do can get you killed, including doing nothing." So just f it. But go to the cardiologist when you are old.

Comprehend doing as much as you can, and pray you die on the Cliffs of Moher or in the Dead Sea, not taking out the garbage.

For me, a month and a half ago. Widow-maker heart attack and quadruple bypass at 47. Decently healthy by all accounts, shitty cardiovascular genetics just reared its head. Feel like I’m living on borrowed time now.

Eta: I think it really sunk in when I received the Anointing of the Sick before surgery. It was definitely a “shite just got real” moment.

I know it’s gonna happen. It’s not denial. And I don’t wanna live a super long life, especially with all this technology taking over everything. I’m very thankful I grew up when I did when everything was so magical and imagination was heavily used. All this AI crap has killed imaginations and originality. With all that said, I still can’t fathom dying, even though I know it could come at anytime.

shite. Two of my closest childhood friends died at ages 20 and 40. Tomorrow ain’t guaranteed bro

I got high one time in college and started having a panic attack after thinking about how I'd have to give a eulogy at my mother's funeral one day


My own death doesn't keep me up at night as much as the death of loved ones around me

I guess I’m not being clear enough, so I’ll repeat myself. Again. I KNOW IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. It’s safe to say by making this post I think about it. I’m just saying it doesn’t seem real yet personally, and I’ve seen and experienced plenty of death myself. And just because someone doesn’t think like you doesn’t make it weird.

In my life? 16.


My friends from highschool? About 37-38. A friend of ours died unexpectedly. He went to bed and never woke up again at 37 years old. My friend group took his death extremely hard, I think because it was the first time they realized that they are going to die.

I realized it when my mother died at 43, exact same way my friend died - go to sleep and never wake up.

quote:

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I know we all know it’s gonna happen eventually. But when do we really start believing it’s coming. I’m 51, and I still can’t comprehend it.

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At 52

I’m 61. I’ve thought of it often most of my life but never more so than the last 10 months since I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. If you weren’t already, a top 3 lethal cancer diagnosis will wake you up. I’ve had to go through the toil of making sure my affairs were 100% in order. I’ve had to read up on hospice, end-of-life care and last rites.

I’ve been given an all-clear, No Evidence of Disease and released to only have checkups every six months. Pretty much a miracle. But I hope and pray I never lose the edge this situation gave me to make sure my heart, mind and soul are right with God and that I’ve made things right with the people I love.

Editing to say…there is also a spiritual, existential part to this. Like, what actually happens when your heart stops beating? Where do you “go.” I’m Catholic so I believe in purgatory. But what is that? Are we conscious as we are now? Do we have bodies or are we just spirits in limbo in the spirit world? I know there are Bible verses that touch on this but it’s mind-boggling to consider.

it hit me hard the last year. mid 40's.