Lately I’ve posted Blogs about being with the dying, changes in a dying person, signs of death and death of a parent.

I’ve had many responses. Among them is one from a woman named Ellen, who has a daughter of her own.

One thing that surprised Ellen was the difference between losing her father and other losses she’s experienced, including miscarriages and the loss of friends to accidents and suicides:

“Your time as a child is ending and mortality is in your face,” She says. “The family tree has changed…one of the roots has been cut off. I was just a child walking with my dad and now I’m looking at my own child. I want to make the most of the time with my mom.”

And others, like Sandy quoted below, have spoken with me about how the death of a loved one or their own brush with serious illness has caused a reevaluation of their own life:

“When someone dies…who you were particularly close to, or you get diagnosed with cancer or some other life-threatening disease or illness…and I’ve experienced both…you really look at what is important in life and you realize it’s the loving relationships you have and what you choose to do with the NOW that you have left! You want to make the most of it. ”   

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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