Some people like to avoid conversations around death. I’m different.

At the quantum level, a particle could be or could not be present — we only know once it’s observed. I take that and use it as a model for existence. You, faithful reader, could be here or you could not be here; it will only be once I see you whether I know you’re here.

My idea about the impermanence of life gives me a freedom to adopt a realistic view on life and death. In a way, it’s the thought of death hanging over my head that motivates me to work harder, be more present, and to never take any moment for granted. I stress less.

What’s the incentive to avoid death then? Personally, I don’t see one. I acknowledge that others might have had traumatic and horrible experiences losing a loved one. I can’t offer an insight to counter their experience, and I would never.

I wonder if our avoidance is because deep within our mind there is a question that we are afraid to answer. That question might be: “Did we make the most of the time we had?”

I fear the answer, for some, might be “no.”