What Is A Good Death?

We often speak of death as a singular, defining moment. A punctuation mark at the end of life’s narrative. Yet, what if death isn’t a final destination, but an ever-present companion? It is a shifting moment that redefines our essence as we journey through life.

To me, a "good death" is the realization that death is not foreign or frightening. It is a force woven into the fabric of my existence, not bound by form or finality. It lives within every goodbye, every metamorphosis, every chapter closed. Each time I shed an old version of myself, I experience death. And each time I choose to step forward, to embrace change, to live fully. I rise again.

Death isn’t a measurement of loss, but a marker of transformation. From the subtle endings of seasons to the abrupt ruptures of relationships, death whispers its truth: you are always becoming something else. It’s not a moment to be feared but a transition to be embraced, for it carries within it the essence of life itself.

Living, then, becomes my testament to death. By choosing to live, I choose to confront the inevitable with curiosity, creativity, and courage. Every joy, every struggle, every decision to love despite its risks is a declaration of defiance against the fear of death. It is a celebration of the constant rebirth that defines existence.

Ultimately, how I die is irrelevant. What matters is how I live. In every full-hearted embrace of life, I honor death—not as an ending but as an ongoing rhythm, a partner in the dance of becoming.

We all experience many deaths. Some small, some seismic. But in those departures, we find our power to transform, to grow, to begin again. And in that, we discover the truest meaning of life

“Passing” by Teacoa Rushton

Ronald Reagan International Airport