The following article discusses the tasks to be completed, by the end of life, in order to have lived well, and fully, with satisfaction, and minimal regrets.  Though it is written from the point-of-view of one  looking back across a life--from a time, perhaps nearing the end of life, the tasks are excellent as guidelines along the path of life, from any point of adulthood:   

The four tasks for living and dying

1. The need to find meaning in life

What was this life all about?

• What did I learn in my life
• What did I do with it?

What did I give to others and what did I receive from others?

• What did I give to others and what did I receive from others?
• Did I live according to my beliefs and priorities?
• What are my priorities now?
•  

2. The need to heal relationships, to deal with unfinished business to make a deep and heartfelt connection

• Acknowledging difficulties, joy, love, resentment, anger, good and bad - aiming for forgiveness.
• Forgiveness and compassion towards self and others.
• Working through and sharing grief, reaching and sharing joy.
• Opening up to the present. Living in the moment.
• Settling practical affairs, making a Will, etc.

3. The need to find meaning in suffering and the need to transcend the unavoidable suffering of dying

• What are you learning from this situation you are in now?
• Can you see anything positive in this?
• Has this crisis become an opportunity for you?
• Have you, through this experience, been able to make a deeper connection to life and with others?
• Do you have a means to alleviate anxiety?
• Do you use meditation or prayer or relaxation exercises or inspirational readings or inspirational music to help you in this process of accepting and dealing with present circumstances and to transcend them, to develop or deepen what some might call a more spiritual outlook?

4. The need to understand what death is and to prepare for it in the best way possible

• What do you believe death is?
• What do you believe happens at death?
• Do you have a spiritual or religious belief and what is it?
• How can...others help and support you in this?

Prepare for death and let go

Prepare for death and let go. Make a Living Will, prepare a Death Plan and a Funeral Plan.

The above article, written by Josefine Speyer, is based upon principles from Facing Death and Finding Hope, by Christine Longaker (1997, ISBN 0 71 267757 7).  These principles are used as part of the Befriending Network's training program.  The Befriending Network is a volunteer program in Great Britain, providing emotional support to those with life-threatening or terminal illnesses.  It was originally posted on http://www.globalideasbank.com .  It appears here with permission of Ms.Speyer.  The web address for the Befriending Network is:  www.befriending.net.  Further contact information for Ms. Speyer appears on the global ideas website. 

This article cannot be reproduced without permission of Ms. Speyer. 

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