by Daniel Troit

Created on: February 10, 2009

For some, death remains one of the most intimidating aspects of life. As it is impossible for most to know the exact time and nature of their death, the prospect of such a mystery is frightening. The only certainty many individuals have regarding death is its inevitability. In fact, there is more to be known about death than its assured arrival. The physical process of death is actually quite precise. The heart and breathing rates drop as separate systems shut down in an orderly fashion. It seems as though the body has a plan and is prepared for the occasion. The fact hat a body knows how do die, along with many other autonomic processes, remains one of the wonders of biology. Aside from the Promethean preparedness of our genes, it is also good for your conscious self to be aware of what's coming.

You will feel coldness in your extremities as blood ceases to flow there. As your organ systems shut down, one by one, you will no longer be able to detect them. Your breathing patterns will change and become erratic. You will be able to entertain less complex thoughts as the oxygen to your brain depletes. Once the first of your brain cells die, they will release a chemical that will in turn cause the cells around them to die. As this process continues, it will feel very much like rows of lights being consecutively shutdown in a large warehouse, beginning far away and moving toward you. This narrowing of perception is unlikely to inspire panic for, once gone, the self is unable to recall a missing element until it is reconnected. While it's true that you may watch your memories fading away, you are unlikely to miss them, as you will be unaware they ever existed. In the instant before the last pixel of experience goes dark, on finds oneself upon the cusp of being and nothingness. Say cheese.

The improbability of a soul enduring beyond organic death aside, the nature of such a post-living existence would be so radically different than one's present experience in material life that the current self would cease to be in light of the transformation encountered. Either of the options places a very definite end to the "me" experiencing your life so far. As a result, death offers the most lucid view from which to evaluate your decisions and experiences. As the ultimate recapitulation, preparations can be made for death in order to maximize the benefit of such perspective.

The first order of business in preparing to die is to diffuse the pressure of unresolved issues. This can be done by discussing situations with others, recontextualizing them as necessary elements of one's story or passing the lessons the yielded on to those one leaves behind. The establishment of legacy is also important. In view of the fact that "self" in the persistent regard one has for their own experience, the enduring consideration others have for their experiences involving the departed constitutes the closest representative of the self that remains after organic death. It is advantageous to be satisfied with the outcome of ones life when approaching the end as this will aid in the creation of a more pleasant review. Such preparations enable the individual to look forward with full anticipation to the mystery of death. An unrestrained embrace of death as the ultimate opportunity for retrospection allows the dying the chance for final happiness. To approach death with happiness, one is able to end one's life on a high note, completing the thought and resting in satisfaction.

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