Are you afraid of dying?

[Alexander]

Discuss.

[dolo amber]

1. I'm afraid of dying in a horrible way, but afraid of dying as a concept

seems rather pointless. :shrug:

[lost-in-nj]

2. Yes

I am afraid to die
before i get to tell the people I love
how much I love them
I DO tell them...just about every day
BuT when a website qwn't let us access its hard to get
our thoughts across.......

lost

[WCGreen]

3. I use to be until I survived a coma back in '04...

Now, I take life as it comes...

[wildhorses]

4. no.

[NMDemDist2]

5. no n/t

[Lyric]

6. Terrified of it.

I try not to think about it, most of the time.

[liberaltrucker]

7. Nope. Comes with the territory.

We live, we die. Having said that, I fear dying in pain, but
my 45 page living will covers that-niece is a lawyer!

:)

[supernova]

8. No, I'm not

It will happen one day and I will have no control over it whatsoever.

Until then, I'm going to live it up!

[LeftyFingerPop]

9. I don't fear death, but I fear...

not being alive anymore. Subtle difference.

[dolo amber]

12. That too

:thumbsup:

[liberaltrucker]

22. You weren't alive before you were born

We (you) didn't exist before birth, all those billions of
years. And we won't exist after death-for whatever billions
are yet to come. Hell, maybe someday an archeologist will come
across a hard drive, decipher it, and find this thread. Hey, who
knows?

[Deja Q]

83. And how do you know that?

That we didn't exist before birth?
:D

[Deja Q]

82. What if you substituted one form of living for another?

Not in a legal sense, I'm not that type of guy. But as PDDs go, some people just aren't able to define 'living' the way most take for granted.

[Richard Steele]

10. No.

[Writer]

11. No.

I am more than ready to die.

Why do I believe I have any more right to live than the next person?

[The Straight Story]

13. Yes and no

Yes for right now because I would leave a 6yr old behind who would miss her daddy.

Overall for me though, personally, no.

Their are one of two choices I embrace in it all:
1. When you die, that is it - like going to sleep and there is nothing more. I won't know anything or feel anything so it won't matter.

2. The god I believe in is real and my passing on in this life will only lead me to a better one.

Either way - the only thing that bothers me about dying is how it affects those that I leave behind and that I love. Death is a part of life, you have a start and finish line and that is just how it is.

I have learned to not worry about what certainly will be someday, and to think about what is today. Enjoy it while ya got it, and don't stress about what the end result is - else you will miss the fun part :)

[some guy]

14. Yes

I don't think it's ever painless. I dislike pain.

I'm not afraid of death, just the point between life and death.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. Not for myself...

But I'd worry about my kid if I knew I was dying.

[LeftyMom]

16. Only of leaving my kid without me.

[cobalt1999]

38. that's me too.

I could die today and I've had a great life, but I'd be terrified of the impact of my death on my daughters.

[AwakeAtLast]

54. Ditto

She's only 5, that would be too much for her - especially after her Dad was gone to Iraq for a year.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. I'm not afraid of dying....

But I hate the idea of being dead....

I love living, and I want something of me to continue on after this body of mine is no more....

And I want to know and have consciousness of this something as well...

[liberaltrucker]

24. You have a legacy, your children

Who could ask for more?

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. That's true....

And now grandchildren as well.....

But I'm being selfish...

I want my soul to go on, and I want to be aware of it going on!

:hug:

[liberaltrucker]

27. Some say your soul will go on, and you'll be aware

And I, for one, believe it to be true. Maybe it'll be in the
form of the body you recognize, per Christianity, or something
else. Either way, Peggy might just be around in one form or another
to spout the "F" word for millenia(sic)! One can only hope!

:hug:

[chknltl]

57. CP, I am convinced that what you wish will happen to all of us...

As I have mentioned to you before, I am convinced that we live a great many lives, reincarnating each time to a differing body with a differing outlook and differing goals for that particular life. Some of our prior lives stay with us, the "karma" we accrue which must eventually be paid or received and some of our fears which more often than not are reflections of prior deaths. A phobia of falling from great heights for instance often times reflects the death from just that in an earlier life, claustrophobia and aqua-phobia and etc. are most often from related deaths.

Each life is important in the learning and living, otherwise we would have absolute total access to ALL of our memories of our prior lives. This is blocked by our own spirits deliberately in order to NOT severely diminish that living and learning I mentioned. Think about it, even in a single life, going back and reliving your teenage years knowing everything you know now, might sound enchanting BUT most of the impact from the experiences would be dulled, that first awkward kiss would and could never happen for instance....you are far too jaded to get those same feelings. That is why those past life memories are blocked.

I have bits and snags of memories from a few prior lives, thank God thats all I have, could you imagine the accumulated pains? The loss of countless hundreds of loved ones...hell I can hardly get over the loss of even a single pet! I have for instance a partial memory of a peasant somewhere near the Great Wall Of China...I am sad for him, for his pathetic life and the way he died BUT he ain't me and I am glad he is not at the controls of this life..it is mine and mine alone to experience.

As we travel through time, our spirits do grow and allow more and more through, eventually you will be remembering some of your prior lives. To me that is sad in that I know there will be few lives left in the future. I suppose I should not be saddened by this but I am and for what it is worth it actually bothers me more than dieing. I suppose my "knowing" this makes me jaded and that plays a part in the sadness.

I have told you about the "Messages from Michael" philosophy before. Here is a link to an actual Michael Channel. If you wish, you may speak directly to Michael through her. Many Mature Souls will find this intriguing enough to actually check out. Young, Baby and Infant Souls, will want NOTHING to do with this...which is as it should be. (America is predominately a Young-Mature Soul country). Old Souls are comfortable here and have little difficulty chatting about it. I want to offer it to you as a potential source for comfort...it has had that affect on me and I sense it will on you too. Her prices are quite reasonable and she seems like a normal enough lady. http://members.aol.com/joyapope/#personal

ps: as usual, I have written a lengthy post, one I would rather, with hindsight, have PMed to you because I know many others who may read this will have their thoughts that I am a lunatic, confirmed! Lazy hippie that I am, I will just have to live with that.

[Swede]

18. It's the not being gone,it's the going.

If'n you catch my drift.

[Omphaloskepsis]

19. Yes, I came really close about five years ago.

I wasn't before that.

[Fire Walk With Me]

20. 13. Breathing in, I contemplate impermanence. Breathing out, I contemplate impermanence.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html

http://www.amazon.com/Path-Emancipation-21-Day-Mindfulness-Retreat/dp/1888375159/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6160334-7768862?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183783281&sr=8-1

[Shine]

52. Nice.

:thumbsup:

I love Tich Nhat Hanh.

:hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

21. Great quote from an old song

"I'd rather die happy, than not die at all"

[MilesColtrane]

23. I am afraid of nonexistence.

But, then I try to remember that there is no "I".

[Capn Sunshine]

25. no. Never was

I think people can sense that , especially those with malice in their hearts.

Net effect: almost been killed several times

[Inchworm]

28. No- but I'm a dumbass lol

and my body shows it.

Years of recklessness :P

:hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

30. ....

:hi: :rofl: :rofl:

[Inchworm]

33. ...

lol... toss in over-revving.. faghetaboutit!

Not a suggested course of life hehe

:pals:

[SPKrazy]

29. Not so much, I do fear lingering

and being kept alive although if my loved ones did, i'd forgive them.

I don't believe in the survival of the conscious mind. I do believe in the survival of the energy or life force. I dont know what form that takes, or if it communicates, or is joined back with other energy in the universe, i just don't believe that energy can be created nor destroyed per first law of thermodynamics.

:shrug:


so my energy travels to feeding the carrion birds, or the worms, or the energy heats the crematorium, and the heat transfers on. I dunno. I think there is also a life force that leaves the body as well. I am not my body, but I also don't know what "I" am after death, or that I am even "I" in any recognizable form.

[Generic Brad]

31. No fucking way

Sorry to be so emphatic, but it us as much a part of life as death is. Fearing that which is natural baffles me. It's like being afraid of breathing, or the rain, or the grass growing.

[liberaltrucker]

32. Song says it all- BS&T "And When I Die"

I'm not scared of dying,
And I don't really care.
If it's peace you find in dying,
Well then let the time be near.
If it's peace you find in dying,
And if dying time is here,
Just bundle up my coffin
'Cause it's cold way down there.
I hear that its cold way down their.
Yeah, crazy cold way down their.


And when I die, and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born
In this world to carry on,
to carry on.

Now troubles are many, they're as deep as a well.
I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell.
Swear there ain't no heaven and I pray there ain't no hell,
But I'll never know by living, only my dying will tell.
Yes only my dying will tell.
Yeah, only my dying will tell.



Give me my freedom for as long as I be.
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me.
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me,
And all I ask of dying is to go naturally.
Oh I want to go naturally.

Hey, who can argue?

:shrug:

http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/blood_sweat_tears/and_when_i_die.html

[TrogL]

34. Not since the last Sopranos episode

I take my requiem seriously.

[Heidi]

35. No. In many respects,

it would beat the hell outta mowing my mother-in-law's grass on a beautiful Saturday morning. Just sayin'.

[WinkyDink]

36. Yes. It's freaky to think of being......nothing. And having no knowledge of it!

[Rhythm]

37. Not in the least...

I try to live every day so that, when that eventual moment arrives (via heart attack, car accident, or even an anvil dropped on my head) that i will have as few regrets (shoulda/coulda) as possible.

Just so i don't forget...

I love you all... every damn one of ya!
:pals: :hug: :pals: :hug: :pals:

[Maestro]

39. I'm not afraid of dying, but I hate the idea

of never seeing my wife and kids again.

[Fox Mulder]

40. Yes.

I'm also afraid that we may not continue to exist after we are dead.

:scared:

[China_cat]

41. I'm afraid that whatever kills me is going to hurt like hell

and I don't do pain.

However, like many people, what pisses me off is that the essential 'me' will cease to exist. I think that's the reason for religion, to give a sense that 'you' will go on after your body quits. For most that call themselves christians, I think it's easier for them to picture themselves in hell than not existing at all. For those who believe in reincarnation, I don't think I've ever met one who could remember a past life but isn't absolutely sure that he/she will remember being themselves in the next.

Maybe I'm just too close to that event to have any illusions left about it.

[Seashell Eyes]

42. No

As long as it's quick, peaceful, and not for a while.

[ThomCat]

43. No. I'm kind of looking forward to it.

I don't want it to happen soon, but when the time comes I'll be ready for it.

[LeftyFingerPop]

44. Illness or disabilty can indeed...

make you look forward to it.

But, everytime I think of that, I then think.....but what else is there?

In my case, I'd rather feel pain than feel nothing.

Dying doesn't scare me at all, but not being here petrifies me.

[lost-in-nj]

45. I am not afraid of dying

per say
I am afraid of HOW I will die
and I am afraid that everything I want to say to my loved ones
will not be said,,,,,,

so guess what??? I say it!!!!! :toast:

true story.....
my sister was away with work... just 2 months ago, they ate at the same restaurant every morning...
had the same waitress, every morning....
last morning she wasn't there.. they joked that she probably got sick of them and called in
or she had the day off.....

NOT... she had an argument with her boyfriend the night before
left work crying
crashed into a tree and was killed instantly

NEVER ASSUME YOU WILL BE HERE 4 EVER

Let your family and friends know how you feel.......

:hug:

lost

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

46. "To conquer death you only have to die."

As a Christian I know it's not the end of existence, only a doorway. Since I've already passed through countless doorways in my life, one more doesn't worry me or scare me.

[terrya]

47. No

It's going to happen anyway. Why be afraid of it?

[Digit]

48. Not afraid of being dead, but the struggle to get there.

Like trying to struggle to breathe...that would be uncomfortable. That is why I appreciate the Kavorkian approach.
And I want cremation...I don't want some mortician trying to make me look like I was when I was alive.

The thought of being embalmed is gross. I had a "funny uncle" who became a mortician and I don't want my meat to be laying on a slab with the thought of someone getting their rocks off on my cold dead corpse.

I have left my body before, and that experience was memorable. It really let me know that I am NOT my body. The fear of death left me at that time....and that was more than 30 years ago. I knew then and I know now that our essence lives on. Our bodies wear out, period, but our spirit lives on.

I don't want mourners...I want people (if they are so inclined) to celebrate me crossing over to the other side. I know I will....

[stuntcat]

49. nope

as for discussion.. nope O8) :evilgrin:

[fishwax]

50. not really, but I'm not thrilled at the thought of leaving my loved ones behind

I'm not worried about myself, but I don't want those who love me to suffer my loss ...

[ashling]

51. Sort of depends

on who or what is dying.

I am afraid of Democracy dying, I'm afraid of certain war criminals not dying (Homeland Security is watching me}

But I'm not really afraid of my own death. I wouldn't want to go in a horrific way, or be a vegetable for years.

[EstimatedProphet]

53. Absolutely terrified of it

I can't accept the idea of consciousness going away. It scares the hell out of me.

[underpants]

55. No- I tell everyone in my house that I love them everyday

I can't image the sadness of having regrets in that last second, seriously I couldn't

I leave home everyday knowing that I have peace of mind that way.

Getting over fear is a HUGE deal in the world we live in. I figured that out in the long nights awake with my dauther when she was newly born- boil it down and take what you can off the list.


Don't be afraid- you have no idea how dumb that is. IT is not there. IT.
.

[Skittles]

56. not afraid of death.....dying, yes

the cost, the pain - yes

[chknltl]

58. Sorta...more sad than fearful actually...

because i feel that i have more lives behind me than ahead.

[Common Sense Party]

59. Not at all. It's only my body that would be checking out, IMHO.

Happens to us all.

Get busy livin', or get busy dyin.'

[datasuspect]

60. i'm on a death trip

sometimes i wonder if getting close to it is a way of accelerating it.

[KG]

61. no, i just would rather not.

[sarge43]

62. No

No sense in being afraid of the inevitable, but I am scared spitless of the way I may die.

[MissMillie]

63. no, I'm afraid that

no one will miss me

[Orsino]

64. Sure.

I love life, and I don't see anything beyond its end.

[NC_Nurse]

65. Not at the moment.

Sometimes in the car when my husband's driving. :D

[Okiojira]

66. An insult!! Slander!! Libel!! I'm being maligned!! Where's my lawyer?!

Besides, a little road rage is good for the soul. And it helps weed out the weak drivers. :P

[NC_Nurse]

67. .

:-)

See what I mean?

[riderinthestorm]

68. I've always loved Gandalf's convo with Pippin at Minas Tirith

In the scene Gandalf's trying to allay Pippin's fear of dying. Even as an atheist, I've always loved the images that are painted.

Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One that we all must take... The gray rain curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass. And then you see it...
Pippin: What--Gandalf, see what?
Gandalf: White shores. And beyond... A far green country, with a swift sunrise....
Pippin: Well... that doesn't sound so bad.
Gandalf: No... No it isn't.

[leeroysphitz]

69. Why should I be afraid of dying? There's no reason for it. nt

[LaraMN]

70. Yes. I'm afraid of leaving Jack.

My other kids, as well, while they're young. I feel like Jack will probably always need me because of his disability, and the thought of not being here for him is scary to me.

[Tyler Durden]

71. Utterly and completely phobic about it

The shrinks that be, far in the past, say it relates to a trauma in a dark place, or it may be an extension of "night terrors" as a child.

[Bombero1956]

72. I am

have been since when I was little. I had a cousin who had leukemia and I faintly remember him and how weak he was and the toll it took on the family. It frightened me so much it has stayed with me ever since.

[no name no slogan]

73. No, it's living that scares me

:scared:

[Arugula Latte]

74. I'm afraid of pain and suffering ...

:scared:

[elshiva]

75. No. But I am afraid of my parents dying.

I don't have any children, but I am afraid to lose my parents.

[deadparrot]

76. Yes. nt

[bertha katzenengel]

77. If you consider the sorrow of leaving my precious loves behind, yes.

Otherwise, no. Although it's no fun to consider that i could die in a fiery car wreck or a plane crash or by someone else's hand.

[DutchLiberal]

78. Terribly afraid

More afraid of it than anything else.

[Alexander]

79. kick

[Neoma]

80. Death is a part of life.

Why should I be afraid of the common life cycle?

[Deja Q]

81. Yes.

Haven't had much of a chance to live the way most people take for granted.

Nor do I think that will change any time soon, but after 35 years one gets used to it.

[Spacemom]

84. I haven't decided yet

Sometimes it does scare me. I was with my mom when she died. I was holding her hand, and I remember thinking it was the bravest thing I'd ever seen anyone do.

Other times it seems like it will be such a relief.

I'm hopeful that something continues on after death, although it's probably not the "me" that I think of. But other times I'm pretty certain this is all we get.

[AlCzervik]

85. only if it hurts really bad.

[S n o w b a l l]

86. Not one bit...

I am scared of laying in a nursing home incapacitated...alone.

I'm all for euthenasia.

[camero]

87. When I first got diabetes I was but not anymore

Actually kinda wish it could be from dead in bed syndrome but I know it's not going to go like that. So I just hope it's as painless as possible.

[laylah]

88. Only if Kaghime

gets pissed at her MaMa and pulls the plug before I am ready :rofl:

[Akoto]

89. I fear suffering more than I fear death.

Unfortunately, most of us don't get one without the other.

[Fuzz]

90. Why? What have you heard?

[Swede]

91. Dying,yes. Death,no.

nt