It is a privilege to be present when someone dies. If only I’d seen it that way, it would have helped me no end

It is a privilege to be present when someone dies. If only I’d seen it that way, it would have helped me no endI have received many lovely messages in the weeks since my dad died – including one that will always stay with meneed to stop banging on about death and dying, I know, or people are going to start crossing the street when they see me coming. But there is one more thing I need to share.

Just read your article about losing your dad. As a nurse I have been privileged to see many pass away. It’s different when you love the one who passes. Your emotions will be all over the place for a while. I still have days. It does get easier and I have learned to now see mum and dad in my dreams. Sometimes, I don’t want to wake. Everyone around you loves you, use their shoulder. Sending love, thinking of you.

that struck me in the solar plexus. I mean unselfconscious in the sense that she’s not making a particularly big deal of framing it in this way. She is not saying: “Hey, you need to see what you’ve been through as a privilege!” No, it’s plainly just the way she feels. And the more I think about it, the more I think she’s right, or rather, the more I think that I’d like to do a job on myself and feel the same way. For me, I suspect this will necessitate the mother of all reframing exercises.

In lockdown, when we were banned from seeing our friends and relatives in hospitals and care homes, I got a text into my radio programme. It was from a former special forces soldier. He said he had been in all sorts of danger all over the world and none of it had ever held any fear for him. Only one thing had ever frightened him and that was the thought of dying alone. That text stayed with me, too.

And that’s it from me on death for a while. I’ve said my piece. For the time being at least, I choose life.

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

I’ve spent a lifetime dreading the loss of a parent. And now it’s finally happenedI am shocked at how shocked I am. Why are we so unprepared when the inevitable comes to pass, asks Adrian Chiles
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says state government should pay for transport to new Olympic stadiumThe freshly re-elected Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told ABC Radio Brisbane it would be up to the state government to pay to connect the Olympic athletics site to public transport.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

LNP Brisbane Lord Mayoral Candidate Adrian Schrinner Answers 20 QuestionsLNP Brisbane lord mayoral candidate Adrian Schrinner answers 20 questions from Brisbane Times ahead of the March 16 council election.
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »

Adrian Schrinner returned as Brisbane’s lord mayorAdrian Schrinner has retained his position as lord mayor of Brisbane, winning the local council election for another term.⁠
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »

Adrian Schrinner re-elected as Brisbane Lord Mayor with LNP on track to retain council majorityBrisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has been re-elected to the city's top job, while the LNP looks set to win the Ipswich West by-election amid a significant swing away from the state Labor government.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Giants deputy chairman Adrian Fonseca cashes in on fast foodAdrian Fonseca and developers Ben and Jono Isaac were the big winners from a property auction after selling a McDonald’s in Newcastle for $5.5 million.
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »