Question by Dave: "In learning how to die, we will know how to live." Meaning?
Taken from the book, "After Breast Cancer, A common-Sense Guide to Life After Treatment" by Hester Hill Schnipper.

Here is the rest of the quote:

"We have to think about how we want to live and we have to consider how will will someday want to die. All of us must learn how to live so we will know how to die. Equally important, in learning how to die, we will know how to live."

Comments are welcomed.

She is an oncologist who has had breast cancer and has lead many support groups and have had very close members of the group die. As she has witnessed their struggle in cancer's last stages she states that this is what really matters.
Here is another excerpt from her book:

"The truth is that we are all afraid sometimes. Another part of the truth is that we find ways, often in community, to support one another and to face the fear. I facilitate a weekly group for woment who have metastatic breast cancer, and I am regularly awed by their courage and their grace in accepting me as an equal partner in their journey.
Being with them helps me to imagine that I, too, can live with this challenge if it comes to me. There is a deep comfort in this. As the women in this group often say, we learn from one another that there are WORSE THINGS THAN DEATH, and we learn how to meet death when we must."

Question?

What could be worst than death?

Only thing I can think of is an unfulfilled life, how about you?

Best answer:

Answer by MEL.
Hi Dave,

Thank you for the update on becky, polyps are very common and thousands of people are walking around with them not even realizing they have any. I am sure it will be ok...really, I'm not just saying that.

I think the quote means that when faced with possible death we re evaluate our lives and realize the things that are most important to us and our loved ones and having had that experience if we are given a second chance we find that it has taught us how to live our lives the way we know we want to rather than the way we think others expect us to.

What is worse than death??? Well I suppose death is our escape from pain, worry,illness, etc: So she is saying that death is better than long days in agonizing pain or unending worry. That's the only way I can interpret it.

Love and hugs to you both.

Mel.XX

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Tags: Know, Learning, Live, Meaning

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