Your own mortality. How Do you cope?

[Count-A-Strong]

Sort of following on from Mick T's thread......
My Dad has just been told he has between 18months and 2 years to live. He's 79, so it's no big shock but still takes some coming to terms with. It's made me feel like I too have been told I've got a certain amount of time left.
How do you all cope with your own mortality (mainly to the over 40 ABers as this is when it starts to really sink in that you arn't going to be here for ever). I'll look in tomorrow for your replies. Apologies to anyone I've upset but AB is Usually very good for questions of this nature.
Night all.

[RATTER15]

I really don't think anybody can actually answer this unless they have been put in that situation, I really don't know, I'm not afraid of death but not looking forward to it either.

[joggerjayne]

One day I'm gonna snuff it, and my friends (or their kids) will get my stuff.

It's the circle of life. The End.

But I'm still sorry to hear about your dad, CAS.

=0(

[classylady60]

Being given a time scale must be awful, but in general it's a case of we know we don't live forever and some accept it....I just think I'm okay with that but not having (as yet) been given any news like your father has, I don't know how I would deal with it...guess we all react differently as per our characters. Sorry to hear about your dad btw, must be dreadful to know whatever age someone is.

[alexanderd]

Count I have been fit as a lop all my life, never been to hospital, rarely went to doctors. Starting to feel unwell a few weeks ago so went to the docs. An hour later I was in hospital wired up to a heart monitor and was told that if I had not gone in I would not have seen the week out. Quite a shock to the system I can tell you and made me realise I wont be around for ever so I am starting to sort out my affairs which I probably should have done years ago. P.S.I will be 70 in a couple of weeks
Alex

[China Doll]

Death is really the only certainty in life (not meant in a morbid way), I don't know how I'd cope if I was told I had a limited amount of time with it, can't imagine I'd take it all in my stride and be particularly happy about it... But I guess ultimately I'd have to come to terms and make peace with it, what else could you do really.

[douglas9401]

I console myself with the knowledge that I'm made of stuff that's pretty much always been here and always will be. I might get another go, in another form, in another place and if I don't realise it next time, that's fine too. It's mostly been a laugh so far. My only real worry at this point in time and in relative good health is that when the time comes for me to return to the stars the family will ignore my wishes for the cheapest exit possible.

Good thoughts for your dad. :)

[tinkerbell23]

Im well under 40 and i dont cope with it. It crosses my mind alot especially whn im stressed and i wind up in a panic attack about it. I hope i eventually can deal with it! Even reading this or thinking about it makes me feel strange xxxx

Best wished to yoir dad and you and yoir family xx

[tinkerbell23]

*your xx

[Mick-Talbot]

I've gotta say that , i share Gazzas (yes the footballer) views on this . I am afraid of dying , i think about it too often......to many people,far too young,die.

I think you start thinking about your own mortality when you have dependents, i hope the way i feel changes when my kids are adults.


well...... i think, that is enough wine for one evening...

[chrissa1]

I never really thought about it until my husband died in Feb at the age of 60, same age as me. I've been looking at old photos taken 2 or 3 years ago and it is strange to think that we had no idea he would have gone in 2 to 3 years.
I'm not scared of dying and just hope it's peaceful. I do hope I'm going to meet everyone I've loved and lost. That would be nice.
What a scare alex. Hope you go from strength to strength.

[anneasquith]

douglas, thats a nice outlook on life/death you have . i have gone to bed at times and am surprised im still alive the next morning !!!!!!!!!!

[Arksided]

Sorry to hear the news about your Father Count-A-Strong I personally wouldn't like to be told that I have XX amount of years to live even when they are shuffling me about and I'm pretending to be deaf.

I'm only creaking towards forty so not qualified to answer by your terms however I think the time that is left 'alive' is more important than running down a clock to death.

[paddywak]

When I started work for the coal board back in the 60's fatal accidents happened some where in the industry every week,in fact my grandfather and several good friends died in the pits and I myself was involved in a very serious incident of a type that had been often resulted in death I also had a stroke back in 2001 from which, luckily I made a fairly full recovery, but the main point is when this sort of thing happens to you personally it soon makes you realise that you're not immortal like you used to think you are and that you are going to die one day so you may as well get on with life and enjoy what time you've got

[Jemisa]

I'm a bit of a pessamist and as I'm getting older I realise I've not got a lot of time in front of me, no way the amount of time behind me.
I think if I had been told that it would worry the life out of me. Each morning I woke up I'd be thinking "Is it going to be today?"

jem

[sara3]

I am scared of dying, or knowing that it's coming, but the idea of being dead doesn't scare me. I worry for my kids that, if something happened to me.. who would be there for them?

I hope when my time comes I'm kind of tired of it all and ready to go.

Count, I am sorry about your dad.. sad news, no matter how old he may be xx

[ttfn]

Count - sorry to read about your Dad x. I have lost 3 close ones to terminal cancer. It was easier for me to cope with because I wanted to care for and help them to their last breath. I have had my moments, health wise, and feel grateful for everyday I have. I have no fear of death whatsoever. These days I do not worry about things over which I have no control. My motto is very much Carpe Diem

[Cowtipper]

I get about three or four close calls a year. Each one reminds me that I really prefer living to the alternative. I don't fear death really but I sometimes worry about a prolonged period of waiting to die.

[Count-A-Strong]

Many thanks for you practical and honest answers. It has certainly made me appreciate every day, so some good has already come out of it.

[boxtops]

CaS, so sorry to hear about your Dad, mine died at the same age - it's not so old nowadays. It must be hard. I think I'd want to make sure all my affairs are in order, then live every day and make the most of it. I worked in a hospice for some years and that certainly made me realise that life is living while we can.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Count, as you will have seen over the last couple of months, I , like Chrissa, have lost my partner and soulmate. We had no notice of her impending death until she suddenly went into total liver failure and into critical care. She was given just 72 hours initially but did go beyond this. We did not get the chance to say our goodbyes to her as she was on life support and not conscious. At least you will have time to come to terms with what has happened and make plans for the future and say all that needs to be said. Good luck, my friend.