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Death and Dying

I had an interesting conversation last Saturday morning with someone that crossed my path. During our chat, it turned out that he is an undertaker, and he is a deeply spiritual person. He told me that every time he conducts a funeral he is reminded of his destination as a human (body).  He does not know where he is on the road, but he (all of us) are getting closer.

When old people die, we sort of know that they have reached the end of their road, we are shocked and mourn them, but we expect it. When someone young dies, it comes as a shock, especially when they are about 20 years younger than you. It is more of a shock when you have worked with the person and have seen him every day. When it is a person from the office, you realize that his chair will fore-ever be empty, he will not be there to joke around. Seeing him, huddled over his laptop churning out reports for management and clients, no more.

When it is a car-accident, it is sort of acceptable, it happens, there are reckless drivers and they make accidents, but he was not. But when some-one young dies of a heart attack, or a stroke, or what-ever, some-one that seemed to be healthy, (except for the seasonal flu), it is a shock. Young people are not supposed to die like that!

But young people do die, and they die because their bodies are overworked, they die because they are under stress, they die because they do not sleep enough, they die because they are over-committed, working when they are sick, they die because they are putting themselves under too much pressure.

For us, the lesson is: re-evaluate your life, the pressure you are putting on yourself, take stock at what is important, and if required, make changes.

We have lost a great colleague, a bright young man and the company and the wold is poorer as a result of that.

Derek, rest in peace, you will be missed!
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