I was doing one of those online quizzes today, and I came across a question that asked me how would I choose to die. The options were: in a battle, while asleep, when I’m old and crippled, or in an accident. I was stalled for a minute trying to answer the question; however, I picked “while asleep.” I guess I would not want to suffer as the time comes or even know what it could feel like.
Lately, I have been thinking about death and dying, and it is because one of my patients died and it was my responsibility to pass the news onto the patient’s loved ones. I guess by the end of fourth year, I was almost immune to the concept of death, that I do not feel as bad as I did at the beginning of my clinical rotations. However, lately, I have been thinking about my parents and my grandparents in the shoes of my patients. Up until now, I have not thought about the possibility that my parents would not always be around, and it startles to me even think about it.
Pretty soon, my cousins and I will be part of the oldest generation. We will be parents and have our own families. We will be running the show, without our parents. As much as I am still in shock after I realized that the concept of my parents living forever is just an illusion in my head, it somehow makes me feel glad that I am still saddened by the concept of death and dying.
