Death is coming…

Jun 02, 2023
Kemi Nekvapil Weekly Words Blog

In this last week alone, I have spoken to friends who are face-to-face with the death of loved ones.

A beloved member of my children's school community passed away.

I have friends in my orbit waiting for possible terminal health diagnoses and friends with terminal health diagnoses.

The reality is that we die all the time. Humans die.

And yet, we are rarely present with this fact until it hits us or someone we love.

How we cope with death and dying depends on many factors: our cultural background, personal experiences and fears.

When I had my fortieth birthday, I decided that if I was lucky, I might have forty years left. And if I had forty years left, how did I want to spend my time? In fact, I rarely talk about time anymore, but about ‘life energy’. What do I want to do with my life energy?

Who do I want to become?

What do I want to parent my children?

Whom do I want to love deeper?

How do I want to contribute to the world?

What and how do I want to create?

Following last week's three questions, I wanted to share a guided meditation/visualisation I recorded for the mindfulness platform Insight Timer. Insight Timer is the world's most extensive library of free guided meditation from psychologists, spiritual leaders, coaches and mindfulness teachers.

Insight timer is free, and if you know that a little more meditation and mindfulness is just what you need, you should add this app to your toolbelt for living.

Last week I asked questions about the goals you want to keep or drop for the remainder of the year; this practice takes those questions to a whole new level.

The ‘Meaningful Goal Setting’ practice starts on your deathbed, and I guide you through similar questions to what I have mentioned above, but through a finite lens. Give yourself a good 30 mins to sink into the practice and make sure that you will not be disturbed. Also, ensure you have pen and paper handy when the practice ends, as you’ll want to remember what came up.

Our goals are most meaningful when they come from the knowledge that we all have a finite amount of time. Creating lives that honour who we are and how we want to contribute can be deeply informed by the fact that our lives will end.

Wishing you a weekend full of meaning.

As always, I would love to hear your insights, thoughts or musings

Kemi xxx

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