Attitudes To Death And Dying Essay

How we first encounter death substantially impacts our attitudes towards death and dying. As the authors of our text (Lynne Anne DeSpelder and Albert Lee Strickland) say in the preface “…the person who sets out to increase his or her knowledge of death and dying is embarking on an exploration that is partly a journey of personal discovery.” Subsequently, this part of the journey that includes personal discovery encompasses reflecting on our first experiences with death. Who passed? How close were we to that person or animal? How did they die? How did others react to the death? What happens to the body? Thus, these are just some questions that I find paramount to ask myself in how I first conducted my thoughts and feelings about death …show more content…
My brother and I were three years apart in age and the best of friends. His death was what truly shaped my values, beliefs and feelings about dying. Because I spent all of my time with my brother and saw him as an idol, this loss was devastating and put me in a yearlong depression. This loss was one that no one was prepared for and it has put a large void in my small family. Reflecting on my brother’s death now, I can honestly say that I am happy that he is no longer in pain and he is in a peaceful place. I do not look at death and dying in a negative aspect. Actually, I view death and dying as a new journey. While some say it may just be coincidence, sometimes I sit on my flowerless front porch where my brother and I would often talk and a hummingbird comes right up for my face, for just a moment. This experience never happened to me while PJ was alive, but two days after he passed and a dozen times over the past three years, I have been visited up-close and personal by a hummingbird. This unlikely visitor has led me to believe that maybe, just maybe we can send our loved ones certain messages from the other