"They died doing what they loved"

brianlux
brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,736
edited June 2013 in A Moving Train
You've heard that phrase before, right? I just saw an article about some people who "died doing what they loved". The fact that they died is tragic, which goes without saying. I'm not mentioning the particular incident here because I'm more interested and what some of you think in the first place about the concept of dying while doing what you.

My own perspective is that I don't want to die doing what I love. Among other things, I love listening to and making music, reading, walking in nature, spending time with people I'm close to but I have no interest in dying while doing any of those things. I like sleeping but I don't love it but I wouldn't mind dying while I'm sleeping. Most of the time I don't mind standing on a sidewalk but I can't say I love it. But if I were struck by lightening while standing on a sidewalk and were killed that would be an ok way to go.

I really think the whole "they died doing what they loved" isn't for the deceased. I think it's for those left behind. And maybe that's ok but wouldn't it be better to admit that than to pretend people are good with dying doing what they love?

I'm I missing something here? Help me out with this.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"
-Roberto Benigni

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Comments

  • Go Beavers
    Go Beavers Posts: 9,649
    If the person's old, maybe it's a way to say they were passionate about something still, and were happy, rather than sort of withering away. For me, I love cycling, so I wouldn't mind if I was still able to do it in my eighties. And then one day while I'm out on a ride, poof, that's it. I'd prefer that exit over several others that come to mind.
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    I love sleep and in a perfect world that's how id die and I love reading but no way do I want to die on the middle of a book... that would suck. :lol::lol::lol:
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  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,736
    catefrances wrote:
    I love sleep and in a perfect world that's how id die and I love reading but no way do I want to die on the middle of a book... that would suck. :lol::lol::lol:

    Occasionally, when I've been reading a really, really great book, I've gotten a little obsessed with that very thought! Yet, knowing I will never read all the books I would like to in this life time leaves me with one solace: I'll never run out of good reading material. :lol:
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Pap
    Pap Serres, Greece Posts: 30,109
    First thing came to my mind was these guys: Gentlemen, it has been a privilege playing with you tonight.
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  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,937
    Kind of funny thought but you are right on some of the examples I can think of. I dont 'love' sleeping but I think that is the best way to die.

    I have frequently heard buddies joke that they wanted to die having sex. What a horrid way to die for the person you are with, right? Maybe a good way for the person who dies but the other person ends up mid-coitus with a dead person. Ugghh!
    (Room for lots of jokes there!)
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • Hugh Freaking Dillon
    Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    this phrase is, in my experience, normally reserved for those who die at an age that most people would deem prematurely. it seems kind of ridiculous to the objective reader when you see that, I mean, I'd rather live doing something I hate than die doing something I love (these people seem to be the opposite), but it seems to bring solace to those that are left behind.

    it's not like they died in a car accident, they died doing something they knew held some safety risks, and they had accepted those risks because they loved the activity and/or the rush that much.

    If I died at a Pearl Jam concert, I might be ok with that. :D
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  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,367
    th?id=H.4617211160758429&pid=15.1
    Be Excellent To Each Other
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  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    this phrase is, in my experience, normally reserved for those who die at an age that most people would deem prematurely. it seems kind of ridiculous to the objective reader when you see that, I mean, I'd rather live doing something I hate than die doing something I love (these people seem to be the opposite), but it seems to bring solace to those that are left behind.

    it's not like they died in a car accident, they died doing something they knew held some safety risks, and they had accepted those risks because they loved the activity and/or the rush that much.

    If I died at a Pearl Jam concert, I might be ok with that. :D
    Aww, Hugh...your last part reminds me of Roskilde :(

    But I do agree on the premature/unexpected part - I heard on the news this morning that two or three of those who died in the tornados were chasers of them. So yeah, knowing there are risks but going for it? Their choice, I guess.

    For me, while the when/how of death does creep into my head from time to time, I try not to ponder it too much - can make me nuts, plus it takes away from the now of this life.
  • Hugh Freaking Dillon
    Hugh Freaking Dillon Posts: 14,010
    hedonist wrote:
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    this phrase is, in my experience, normally reserved for those who die at an age that most people would deem prematurely. it seems kind of ridiculous to the objective reader when you see that, I mean, I'd rather live doing something I hate than die doing something I love (these people seem to be the opposite), but it seems to bring solace to those that are left behind.

    it's not like they died in a car accident, they died doing something they knew held some safety risks, and they had accepted those risks because they loved the activity and/or the rush that much.

    If I died at a Pearl Jam concert, I might be ok with that. :D
    Aww, Hugh...your last part reminds me of Roskilde :(

    oh shit, I meant no disrespect about that. It didn't even dawn on me when I wrote that! Yesterday in the Fargo 2003 thread I mentioned how I cried when Ed started the show with Arc......
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    A friend's father died during sex. His heart rate went way up and he had a heart attack. I couldnt get that phrase out of my head for awhile when I thought of him.

    I really hope I dont die at a PJ show. unless its during Ole, then thats fine I suppose.
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • BinauralJam
    BinauralJam Posts: 14,158
    tumblr_m7bswov5YL1qfqqdto1_500.jpg
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    hedonist wrote:
    Aww, Hugh...your last part reminds me of Roskilde :(

    oh shit, I meant no disrespect about that. It didn't even dawn on me when I wrote that! Yesterday in the Fargo 2003 thread I mentioned how I cried when Ed started the show with Arc......
    Oh, I know. Your heart was in the right place.

    This past Friday, I had a good if not teary heart-to-heart with the guy who does my hair. His father passed away two weeks ago after living with leukemia for quite awhile. As we spoke, he referred to it as crossing over.

    I found a sense of comfort in looking at it that way.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,736
    Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:
    I'd rather live doing something I hate than die doing something I love

    I like this idea very much, HFD!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • ledvedderman
    ledvedderman Posts: 7,762
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU_-FyuuZF0
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  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 32,025
    I love swimming and to me that would be the best way for me to die yep drowning i'd be so happy :mrgreen:
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • Pap
    Pap Serres, Greece Posts: 30,109
    BinauralJam wrote:
    tumblr_m7bswov5YL1qfqqdto1_500.jpg

    :thumbup:

    ledvedderman wrote:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU_-FyuuZF0

    :lol:
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  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,736
    I love living and no way do I want to die while living. :lol:
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    brianlux wrote:
    I love living and no way do I want to die while living. :lol:

    :lol::lol: Well that's too much for me. :mrgreen:
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • BinauralJam
    BinauralJam Posts: 14,158
    brianlux wrote:
    I love living and no way do I want to die while living. :lol:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmj4wlyPFYA
  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 32,025
    Kevorkian was right ;)
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....

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