Death has taught me my whole life… my dad died suddenly when I was 9. I was always the girl without the dad in my class – but death taught me about strong women (my mom and sisters), death taught me about resilience. Death taught me about grief and loneliness and fear. Then I grew up a little and my mum died 12 years later. Here was death again. I thought I knew about it but I realise I had to get reacquainted. Death taught me again – this time compassion and hope. I became a nurse. I used these lessons I learnt from death – not always nice and neat. A bit messy. I probably got too emotional, too passionate trying to avoid death to come knocking again. It did of course. But I have learnt and I have gained from it. Reluctantly but thankfully.
