I would also find the thought of going to sleep and not waking up to be one of the best ways to die, and personally would include that as one of the ways I would want to leave this life. I have already had the experience of being technically dead, but have been resussetated, 3 times in fact. I have no memory of the time that I was not technically alive. Would I want to have the opportunity to live again , would that be shortly after death, or some time way into the future? I don't think I would want to have to mentally adjust to the probably immense changes that would likely have occurred.

I both fear it, and yet am intrigued by it. Though I think I'm more afraid of "dying" than I am death. I've had a lot of people close to me die, including my little brother when I was young, so I've seen it and been exposed to it from an early age. I've outlived many younger people who I was sure would be around after I had gone.

A few years ago I had a close call when they found a growth on one of my kidneys, and for a few days I didn't know if my expiration date was coming up or not. I remember strongly those feelings... most of which involved "not being around" to see my nephews grow up, or not being around to see the final Harry Potter movie.

I remember when I was younger I would lay on my back and hold my hands over my chest and try to be "dead," but I was always here. I've had dreams where I was facing death and was terrified. So for me, it's complicated. Part of me would love to come back and try to get things right this time, but part of me is comforted in the fact that once it's over, it's over. And part of me hopes that there's something on the other side that will help make this place make a little more sense.

Still, I love the Atticus quote: I hope to arrive to my death, late, in love, and a little drunk.

I have no fear of death as I've been close several times. When it's my turn to go, I'm going and there is nothing I can do about it so why obsess about it.

With that said, it would be nice to be around when my grandson grows up but that's not my call.

It might end all questions or end all discussions! Not rushing but looking forward to it!

I guess death can't be that bad since nobody's come back to complain about it In all seriousness though, I've made my peace with death. I don't WANT to die, but I don't fear death, either. It is in many ways the great equalizer; Death comes for us all, big and small. And when we do die, our matter will be cycled back into Nature so that other lifeforms can keep on existing. I wouldn't mind living again- it's a hell of a ride to be sure! But if we don't live again, I'm ok with eternal slumber, too.

I've said this before, I'm not afraid of being dead but there are some nasty ways of getting dead that I'm not fond of.
I won't know I'm dead, and I won't miss anything about being alive.
Sure I'd like to live again given the opportunity, but I don't believe in reincarnation.

Sure, @ownyrvoice, i would live again.

Here's a way to look at it, a couplet from Punjabi sufi poet Madhulal Hussain (1538-1591, Lahore):

‘Hussain says if you need your life, die before your death vo’
(Kahay Hussain hyati loReiN, murn theiN aggay mur vo)

In order to live a content/joyful life, experience and internalize the concept of death, it says.

I don't know that I fear death as much as it's upsetting for me to consider leaving all those I love. I enjoy my life enough (in fact, a lot!) that I don't particularly want to leave it, and certainly not to leave it randomly (as in an accident) instead of by my choice. Ownyrvoice, I can understand that your partner would be disturbed by you not minding if you died ... she probably reads that as you not minding if you leave her.

I'm from a family where extraordinarily long lives are the norm but we had an anomaly recently: my father developed Alzheimer's in his 70s. Since then, I've had to wonder if that's my fate as well ... and, if so, at what point would I have the control to kill myself before the dementia became overwhelming? So I guess the question of living again to me isn't answerable without a lot of contingencies.

Yeah, me too. A few years ago I had leukemia. I was nto really concerned about dying. As it happened, with drug treatment, I went into "remission." However, the long term progressively increasing side effects of the drug treatments seemed like they'd get worse than it would be to actually just die to me. It's good to be alive, but not if most of my waking life is misery.

At the age of 80, I do not fear death. As far as wanting to live gain, I do not deal with impossibilities. Below, find a piece I wrote years ago as a metaphor to describe how I feel about death:
My old friend, the conductor to death, still waits quietly in the wings. But, as I go through my final years, I converse with him more often. I tell him that I do not hold his role against him because I know that it is the natural order of things. He responds that he appreciates both my understanding and my willingness to face reality. I tell him that I actually appreciate the fact that he will act when the time comes to relieve me from the agony of mental confusion and/or physical pain. He assures me that he will act. I share with him my reflections on how aging is a process of being forced to give up many things that add quality to life, a time of loss of dreams and aspirations, a time when (with few new experiences) we are driven inward to reflect on past experiences, life chapters, successes, failures, loves, losses, memories. He tells me that such inward reflection is a healthy way for people to gain a sense of who they are, a process that is not possible in the aspiring young person. Such is the nature of our dialogue.

Both the conductor to death and I know that when the time comes, he will step forward and say, “It is time.” I will shake his hand and follow him into peaceful oblivion. That is as it should be. I find that image most comforting.

I'm not afraid to die, but I love living. There's so much beauty to see every day in nature and in other people. It never gets old or tiring. If I could live a longer than normal lifespan, I would absolutely do it. It would be amazing to see how the Earth changes, both in terms of terrain and climate as well as in terms of the life that it supports and the cultures that they create. Every Spring I sit and look at the trees in awe of the new leaves, knowing that all of last year's leaves will never come back. I am no more special than last year's leaves, and when it's time for me to die, I won't be able to stop it. But I am a life glutton, and always will be.

I don't fear death but if I had a choice I'd like to die in the saddle or as Tyrion in Game of Thrones described how he'd like to die. Regarding living again if given the chance, I would if I could retain my memories. As much as I've learned thus far I've not learned near as much as I'd like. I'd hate to have to start all over again.

Death holds no fear if you die knowing you have done your best.

Hmm... yeah, I'd like to live again. I'd like it even more if I retained my memories.

a dog, a head of lettuce, and a human experience the same thing after death, nothing. Reality doesn't always have to be pleasant. It is just reality.
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