To die alone.

[malakaix]

Would you prefer to die alone, or with friends/family around you? and why?

I thought about this recently and the cultural differences in relation to the acceptance of death, and how this may have a severe effect on the individual going through the process of letting go. On one hand healing to deep emotional wounds may result between the individual and family in their final moments, such as an affirmation of love from the heart that was otherwise believed to be non-existent. And on the other hand the process itself may be made extremely difficult by the presence of loved ones who have difficulty accepting death and instead vibrate fear rather then love to the person dying; making it profoundly difficult to let go.

At this stage in my life i would answer with: alone. I feel that it would be a more peaceful transition, especially if there's been considerable work towards understanding and accepting ones self and mortality. However, my answer only reflects my perspective from this point in time and i wonder if i would change my view later in life. So im curious as to what you guys have to say, especially those with families of their own, i think this would make a big difference in decision.

 

[Ondine]

We all die alone, it's a transformation that no living person can relate to or comprehend.

The topic of one's own mortality seems compelling, but I think in the end, there really is no point in trying discuss it.
We witness death. We can see and know when others die. We feel sadness when our own loved ones pass away, but there is no possible way that someone can perceive or comprehend their own death.

Personally, I'm a believer of quantum immortality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_suicide_and_immortality) which is really more new-age than actual science, but has roots in scientific theory.

Whether you believe that or not, I still believe that death isn't something that we can understand. We can make ourselves think we're ready to die, prepare, even plan our own deaths, but trying to cope with the actual transition from life to death is akin to trying comprehending 'God'.

Edit: I realized I just went off like a smart ass and didn't answer your actual question. I wouldn't mind if I died alone or if I died with hundreds of millions watching on television. If I knew that moment was coming, I would be thinking about the past and the future (?), not the present.

 

[-=SS=-]

With people or without, we all die alone inside anyway. When death comes it will be just you facing it. The greatest adventure of your life.. just let go and enjoy the ride

 

[modern buddha]

I don't have a preference whether people watch me cross over or not.

I'm living, then I'm not. They can't come across with me so it doesn't matter.

 

[sssssssssss]

I'd like to enjoy death by myself. I say enjoy because I'm living a life worth dying for.

 

[kaywholed]

i rather die in a crowd. boom.

 

[sssssssssss]

ya itd be pretty badass to die strapped to a bunch of fireworks in a huge city.

 

[Shambles]

Alone. But when it comes to the crunch and loved ones appear to feel the same it's a fuckin' pisser and no mistake. Which preference wins out? The deadereding one's I spose. Such a mess for those left behind that may not see it quite the same though. Whose death is it anyway?

A question that both pains and looms in equal measure

Right to pretend it ain't happening vs right to "we both know it is so can we at least discuss it before too late?"

(not deliberately confused response but unavoidably so...)

 

[Alex000]

I would rather die alone. I would assume death is a very personal experience, and I would like to have that by myself. I would like to die in comfort, calm and satisfied with my life.

 

[rangrz]

don't care. Hopefully it will be by the fairly gentle hand of a severe traumatic injury, skipping over the years of decline and ill health that comes with "peacefully at home" way.

 

[nAON]

When it happens, I wanna drag at least a couple people down with me.