Simplegal - A very in-depth analysis - thanks for sharing. I wanted to share a couple of thoughts running through my mind right now - A lot of us , at some level, are often fascinated by our morbidity. Not least of all because it seems to run counter to everything else about life. I guess there is a bit of cognitive dissonance, if that's the correct term, in the minds of many people between trying to live life to the fullest and be happy on one hand, and reconciling that with the tension and discomfort of death on the other. That is what my mind is trying to process and internalize these days. - Also, it is so true that survival is such a strong instinct, and that strength combined with a love of life, is what makes it hard for people to embrace death like you and others pointed out. What is interesting to me is how we go through the stages from denial to anger to a few others and finally acceptance and how important it is for people to accept, if not embrace, death in order to truly appreciate and life and live it to the fullest. - To the last point, while you need to accept death, you cannot be so fearful of it that you stop living your life. I personally feel I should make merry while the oxygen still flows through my system. People who have chosen to renounce the world and develop detachments from family and loved ones at an early age, lets say in their late twenties or early 30s, also fascinate me - this is another subject running through my mind these days and I am curious to know if anyone has studied the thought processes of folks who make such a decision. Just some random thoughts. Thanks again for your insights everyone.