Mortality Euphoria

 

There is a well-attested fact that when people are aware of the relative imminence of their own demise it can have the effect of making them much more sensitive to the joys of life. It's not just a 'you don't miss the water till the well runs dry', it's much stronger than that.

I have definitely felt it myself since getting a myeloma diagnosis, which is hardly an imminent death sentence but merely sets a term on my enjoyment. And even I can feel that extra glow of pleasure at a beautiful sunrise or sunset or at seeing parents playing with their wide-eyed young child and clearly loving each other all the more for it. 

There was a well-known example on British TV when the playwright Alan Potter did an interview with Melvyn Bragg a few months before Potter died of pancreatic cancer, which he well knew would kill him on that timescale. And he talked (in this link from about 6.30 onwards  https://youtu.be/XpnyPl8-ZcQ ) about the way that mortality made the here and now so much more vivid and attractive and meaningful.

I also have a lovely friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in his late 40s who was happy to admit that the periodic depression which had been a feature of his life lifted totally when he got his diagnosis. He saw the glory of the world and depression simply went out the window. And then, of course, he died. 

Cro used to joke about it with the phrase 'Blessings brighten as they take their flight', which is a quote from an obscure 18th century poet who is mainly remembered in re-quoted snatches such as this. But brighten they do, and I can say that the feelings of pleasure and the feelings of love that we had in our last year together were certainly bright despite the context. It is perhaps a reassurance to those who will go through this themselves later that there are glories in celebrating a life well lived as it comes to its close. 

I used to joke with Cro: "All really great poems are either about Death or Mortality. Prove me wrong." She would come up with something like 'Daffodils' but I don't consider that great and also if you are talking about perennial plants that bloom and die, how can it not have a slice of mortality in it. I invite you to think about your favourite great poems and pick out all the ones that are not about these two subjects. Comments are open.

So Mortality (which I will even capitalise) can be a real stimulus for pleasure, for joy, for creativity and frankly, for happiness. Don't knock it. Embrace it.