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A Lesson from the Grim Reaper

Aug 08, 2012
by Caroline Miller
Grim Reaper, Hamlet
0 Comment

Almost everyone knows Hamlet’s soliloquy on death, “To Be or Not to Be,” with its sinister doubts about the hereafter. But, if research is to be believed, those who have encountered the Grim Reaper and survived seem to benefit from the experience. I can testify to this fact. Years ago, I was diagnosed with a fatal illness. My life became one of shadows and anger and regret. I saw, as if through a looking glass, that I’d wasted my life. Happily, the sentence was eventually lifted and a mistaken diagnosis admitted. I awoke from my nightmare with a new vision of what my life should be.

Michael W. Wiederman, in “Mortal Thoughts” puts the experience this way:

 ..people who have an abrupt encounter with mortality tend to seek meaning in life and those who pursue meaning in life can handle mortality more easily. (“Mortal Thoughts by Michael W. Wiedermen, Scientific American Mind, July/August, 2012 pg. 57).

According to Wiedermen, people who have not encountered death tend to insulate themselves against their fear in one of two ways. They engage in dare devil stunts, watch horror movies or stock car races as a vicarious means of exposing themselves to death while feeling in control. Or, they ignore the inevitable by keeping themselves busy.

As to the essay’s conclusions, I can only add my small testimony. Shaking hands with death taught me to focus on meaningful work and relationships. Material objectives mean nothing.

Hamlet holding skull

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Courtesy of www.penguinbay.net)

 

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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