There’s a name for how we die, the manner, the ease. There’s even a global ranking for the quality of end of life care “quality of death“. I am reassured that there are many with a concern for how we die. There is a need to better support the dying through that transition.
Apparently few countries have palliative care strategies as part of their overall health care policies. The result, the report claims is “…is an incalculable surfeit of suffering, not just for those about to die but also for their loved ones.”
We’re born to die, that’s not all we’re born for, but it is our existential reality. I don’t know how to die, I’ll try to learn it even though conversations on the topic will be rare, and direct experience will be limited.
I hope to rage rage, even outrageously rage, while I can and then be allowed to die with peace, going gently into the night.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas 1951 (or 1952)