thinking about sad things

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7/30/2019 Thinking About Sad Things http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/thinking-about-sad-things 1/1 THINKING ABOUT SAD THINGS My wife and I were alone on the porch at our beach house in São Sebastião, São Paulo. It was a warm summer evening and Frank Sinatra was playing softly in the background. Maybe it was because of the refreshing and relaxing wine and atmosphere, or maybe because of a general peace of the time and mind, but out of nowhere, some thoughts came to me that started out with the question: Why don’ t humans think (more?) about their own death? For example, as in an unvoiced question to my wife, I thought: "How would you prefer to die, since dying is inevitable?” It’ s obvious; maybe with some exceptions such as suicide and euthanasia, no one prefers to die. But then, at least the way we would want to die can have a preference. Quick and clean, in your sleep, painlessly: these expressions are sometime voiced. But rarely are the details discussed or shared; even within our own minds. So I didn't ask her, but I did ask myself! I ’ ve been coming back to this question every once in a while now, and I still haven't found any best answer. Will I continue to procrastinate as others seem to do?  At the time, I did remember the end of a good, but sad French movie ("Time to Leave" directed by François Ozon), where a young man dying of cancer, sits on the beach to wait his coming death. And I remember thinking that this might be an acceptable option. But then this is one part of our lives where we will have few options, or maybe even none.  And then it started to rain. 

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Page 1: Thinking About Sad Things

7/30/2019 Thinking About Sad Things

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/thinking-about-sad-things 1/1

THINKING ABOUT SAD THINGS 

My wife and I were alone on the porch at our beach house in São Sebastião,São Paulo. It was a warm summer evening and Frank Sinatra was playing softlyin the background. Maybe it was because of the refreshing and relaxing wineand atmosphere, or maybe because of a general peace of the time and mind,but out of nowhere, some thoughts came to me that started out with thequestion: Why don’ t humans think (more?) about their own death? 

For example, as in an unvoiced question to my wife, I thought: "How wouldyou prefer to die, since dying is inevitable?”  It’ s obvious; maybe with someexceptions such as suicide and euthanasia, no one prefers to die. But then, atleast the way we would want to die can have a preference. Quick and clean, inyour sleep, painlessly: these expressions are sometime voiced. But rarely are

the details discussed or shared; even within our own minds. 

So I didn't ask her, but I did ask myself! I’ ve been coming back to thisquestion every once in a while now, and I still haven't found any best answer.Will I continue to procrastinate as others seem to do? 

 At the time, I did remember the end of a good, but sad French movie("Time to Leave" directed by François Ozon), where a young man dying of cancer, sits on the beach to wait his coming death. And I remember thinkingthat this might be an acceptable option. But then this is one part of our lives

where we will have few options, or maybe even none.

 And then it started to rain.