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Say it your way. But say it.
Medical series such as “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Scrubs – the Beginners”, “The Night Shift” or “The Resident” are very popular. Many of us know them, many of us watch them regularly and many of us enjoying talking to our friends and family about the fictional stories. Romantic relationships with a dash of drama are fixed elements of these series, but not the only ones. Almost as frequently, it’s a matter of life and death.
Although living and dying, the transience of life, is something frequently encountered in film and television, where we deliberately expose ourselves to the subject, many of us are very reluctant to talk about it in private. Particularly while we are young, when we are less aware of growing old and the perishability of the body, issues of death and dying are frequently seen as relevant only in the distant future. Mostly we become really aware of the subject when we are forced to, due to a severe illness or the death of someone close to us. Even then, many of us find it difficult to talk about it and to deal with our own mortality.
Making our own decisions about our body – in life and beyond
We all want to enjoy life. Independence is important to us. Even children, from a certain age, want to decide for themselves which clothes to wear, who to be friends with or what games to play. This independence continues throughout our lives. Or did someone tell you what clothes to put on this morning? How would you feel if you no longer had any control over your life and your body?
For most of us, restricting our independence would result in decreased life satisfaction. We want to decide for ourselves how to lead our lives, organise our time, and what happens to us and our bodies. We like to talk about it – about our goals and plans – and are even proud of ourselves now and then for dealing independently with our lives and handling crises.
While we walk through the day independently and see our independence as a right and a part of our freedom, we barely spare a thought to what will happen to our bodies after our deaths. Some people may even say “I don’t care. I will no longer be here.” This is true. Only why should other people suddenly make decisions about us after our death, when we always wanted to be independent in life? Isn’t it obvious that we, as independent individuals, should decide what will happen to our bodies after death?
It really should be, shouldn’t it? We also have the right and the freedom to decide what happens to our bodies after our deaths. But many of us don’t.
Organ donations
Have you ever considered donating organs, cells or tissues after your death? Have you already discussed organ donation with your family and closest friends?
It’s an important decision! Regardless of whether you decide for or against organ donation, it is important that you make a decision yourself and communicate it to your family and closest friends.
It’s important to talk about organ donation
Although the second half of the excuse “I don’t care. I will no longer be here” is true, our family and friends will be here after our deaths.
Organ donations are something that affect both you and your relatives.
Imagine you have just lost someone very close to you. If you have already experienced this situation, you will maybe know the feeling of the world collapsing in that moment or, as people sometimes say, “the ground being pulled from under your feet”. In such situations, the question of organ donations can sometimes seem very sudden. Now, imagine that, additionally, you have to make the decision for or against organ donation in this situation, but don’t know what your loved one wanted. Just imagining this could trigger nightmarish feelings.
If you also have to deal with difficult matters such as organ donation when you are grieving, this can be very stressful. That’s why it is important to talk about organ donation. For ourselves and for those close to us.
More information about the subject:
