Taking The Big Dirt Nap

When It Comes To Dying, It’s Not A Matter Of “If”

When it comes right down to it, Americans have a very difficult time acknowledging their own mortality. If you doubt the validity of this claim, I challenge you to sit down at the dinner table tonight and announce that the topic of conversation will be exiting the planet.

If you actually get past the eye rolling and nervous laughter, someone will eventually volunteer, “Well, if I die…”

And that, my friends, is the point.

When it comes to taking the big dirt nap, it’s not a matter of “if”–rather the issues centers around, “of what and when.” And although we deny it with every fiber of our being, dying is inevitable.

Indeed, death is the one thing that’s guaranteed to us in this life.

In fact, if you really think about it, from the moment you take your first breath when you come into this world, you are officially one breath closer to leaving it.

A word of warning here: this is the point in the article where most will want to head for a trailer court with a fifth of gin and a loaded handgun.

Despite having more than 70 years on average to prepare for it, most Americans haven’t really even considered how they would like to experience this capstone event.

For example, opinion polls confirm the fact that most people do not want physicians to take extraordinary measures to prolong life in the event of a catastrophic medical issue, yet the vast majority of Americans have never filed an advanced directive. (If you are one of these people, I seriously encourage you to visit this link.)

What’s more, most Americans have given precious little thought to where they’d like to die–at home, in a hospice, or in hospital.

Now here’s the really tragic part.

By choosing to avoid thinking about the day of their death, most Americans will never have the opportunity to let their closest of kin and confidents know how much they really love them.

So here’s the challenge. Don’t put this conversation off. If you do, the consequences can be heartbreaking.

For generations we’ve known that when you come to the realization that death has come calling, it’s generally too late to make your wishes or sentiments known. And that’s where you can bid adieux to the notion of dying with dignity and peace.

Every single person deserves the right to have their wishes honored during the final moments of their life, but if you don’t start contemplating the issue now, you are pretty much abdicating your right to a good and decent death to someone else–and it’s unlikely that they’ll be taking the issue as seriously as you are.

In addition, every surviving friend and family member deserves to hear how much you loved them and have cherished the relationship. By not preparing for death well in advance, many of your loved ones will be left with questions that could have–and should have–been reconciled.

Death may be inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be a surprise. Don’t put off filing an advanced directive. Prepare your wishes for your end of days. Write out your thoughts to your most precious friends and loved ones. And, most of all, live every day.

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.”

–Isaac Asimov

Yours in good health,

Dr. David Hunnicutt

**If your looking to learn more, I would highly suggest reading, “The Good Death,” by Marilyn Webb–it’s a profound and remarkable resource.

Copyright 2006, David Hunnicutt.com

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The views and perspectives presented by Dr. Hunnicutt do not necessarily represent those of WELCOA.