You Are Going to Die (Now What?)

Facing Mortality Not as a Threat, but as a Turning Point

Jul 24, 2025

Let’s start where most people refuse to go.

You are going to die.

Not someday. Not metaphorically. Not in some distant, hypothetical future.

You. Will. Die.

It is so easy to believe we have all the time in the world, or at least until our 70s or 80s. But the truth is, we have no idea when or how our end will come. I was reminded of this 20 years ago when my mom was killed instantly in a car accident. Apparently, I needed another reminder 15 years later when my Dad died rather quickly. Again, this week, we were reminded of how suddenly life can change when actor Malcolm Jamal Warner tragically drowned at 54 years old. His unexpected passing underscores the very heart of this conversation: none of us truly knows how long we have.

This is the reality we dance around every day. We bury it beneath endless productivity hacks, kale smoothies, Pinterest affirmations, and perfectly timed morning routines as if we can somehow outsmart it. But we can’t.

One day, your heart will stop beating, your lungs will cease breathing, and the world will continue spinning, indifferent and steady. The people you love will grieve.

That’s a hard truth. But also a liberating one. Because once you fully grasp your mortality, everything else begins to make sense.

We're Not Supposed to Talk About This

We live in a culture terrified of death. We hide from it, sugarcoat it, and disguise it in euphemisms like "passed away" or "gone to a better place." We avoid discussing it openly as if silence could keep death at bay.

But death is not an anomaly. It’s part of life’s natural rhythm, present in every hospital room, every funeral home, every autumn leaf, and every exhale. Our avoidance doesn't make us brave; it leaves us vulnerable. It isolates us in grief and leaves us unprepared for crisis.

So Why Start Here?

Because facing death honestly changes how you live, it recalibrates what you value.

When you truly understand your mortality, not just intellectually, but deep within your bones, you start to release what doesn’t matter: the endless worry about others' opinions, your unread emails, your insecurities.

Instead, you make room for what truly counts: your relationships, your purpose, your voice, your breath.

Acknowledging death won’t make it happen sooner, and ignoring it won't spare you pain.

If You Really Believed It, What Would Change?

Imagine bringing the reality of your death fully into your life. What would shift?

Would you finally speak your truth?

Would you forgive the thing you’ve held onto for too long?

Would you approach life with more courage, softness, or perhaps a healthy dose of irreverence?

Would you stop treating your life like a rehearsal?

Living consciously with death in mind doesn't fill your days with dread; it brings clarity. It infuses each moment with meaning and urgency, reminding you there’s no “someday”—only today, and what you choose to do with it.

My Why (And Maybe Yours, Too)

I didn’t enter this work because I enjoy talking about death. I came here because death forced its way into my life.

People I loved died. I watched friends struggle through impossible decisions in sterile hospital rooms. I've sat with people facing the end, carrying heavy regrets because we never talked about death beforehand.

But I've also witnessed the peace that comes when death isn't ignored. When we prepare, speak openly, and make peace. There’s a quiet calm that emerges, a clarity and presence impossible to find in denial.

This is what I want for you: not fear, not panic, but presence, and maybe even peace.

What This Series Is (and Isn’t)

This ongoing series explores living and dying intentionally, openly, and honestly, without fear or avoidance. It’s not a quick fix or a rigid guide, and definitely not a checklist to rush through. Instead, consider it a gentle yet powerful invitation to build a conscious, courageous relationship with mortality and legacy.

Each post offers reflections, rituals, practical tools, and thoughtful insights designed to help you navigate death and dying, grief, legacy planning, and more. You'll find space for meaningful contemplation, honest dialogue, and deep community. Most of all, you'll find support in facing life's ultimate truth with grace, intention, and heart.

Some Topics We'll Cover:

Why our culture struggles with death (and how we can change that)
How planning ahead is a profound act of love
What actually happens when we die (and why it's less scary than you think)
Holding space for grief before saying goodbye
How to leave something meaningful behind

You don't have to be facing imminent death to benefit; you only need to be alive and willing to look.

Your First Invitation

This week, I won't ask you to fill out paperwork or have difficult conversations (that comes later).

Instead, just sit quietly with this:

You are going to die. Now what?

You don't need answers yet. Just let the question linger.

Let it gently guide your choices. Let it soften your hardened edges. Let it remind you of your one precious opportunity to fully, beautifully live.

What will you do with the time you have left?

Love today,

Heather 🌸