A young woman who was diagnosed with cancer decided to write her obituary before passing away.

I am reading a book called the Tibetian Book of Living and Dying and it speaks a lot about the fact that most of the people are scared to face death for what it is. This year I have been going through a mental breakdown myself and it has been really hard to deal with life. The breakdown has been specifically about death and fear of dying so I would constantly check my pulse, go to the hospital and worry. After I started reading this book, I started meditating again and I have been contemplating the thought of death lately and it doesn’t scare me as much anymore. I have learned to see it as a natural experience of life such as breathing, a transformative point for each soul and being, and so I have learned to embrace it.

Sonia was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she realized that she was going to die soon. She didn’t freak out about it. Instead, she decided to embrace it in a unique way by writing her own obituary and look at death with a subtle sense of humor. She wrote down honestly that she hasn’t done much in this life, besides her kids and marrying her husband. She was open about the mistakes she made in the past that hurt others and she openly admitted to wanting the truth to be revealed, instead of people just writing good stuff about her. Every coin has two sides and every human two cheeks.

Sonia looked at death with a smile on her face. She said there is a pro in dying young, such as not paying the student loan and she continued to make little jokes about the fact that she was about to be gone. Most people look at death as something evil or scary or dark like I have been looking at it for the past of my life, but I have started to realize is just the end of one journey and the beginning of another. After all the journey ends when we have finished our business on Earth and if it hits us suddenly, laugh and embrace it, with meditation, love, and compassion.

If you think of Sonia, and would like to do something in honor of my memory do this:

– Volunteer at a school, church or library.

– Write a letter to someone and tell them how they have had a positive effect on your life.

– If you smoke – quit.

– If you drink and drive – stop.

– Turn off the electronics and take a kid out for ice cream and talk to them about their hopes and dreams.

– Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it.

– Stop at all lemonade-stands run by kids and brag about their product.

– Make someone smile today if it is in your power to do so.”