Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Death this time of year...

A reporter asked me the other day if there were more suicides at this time of year. My answer was no. While we are often more acutely aware of them this time of year, they actually happen with greater frequency in the spring. We tend to be more acutely aware of all deaths this time of year. Folks and family are supposed to gather and celebrate this time of year, not die.

I also talked with the mother of a young person who died recently. We discussed how unfair it was that her “child” died. How unfair that he died so young, without fulfilling his potential. How unfair he was taken away, particularly at this time of year. His death was going to change things so much. The holidays would not be the same.

But death at anytime during the year is often “unfair”. Death at anytime during the year will change our holidays and our celebrations and our lives. Death is always sudden, even when it is anticipated. Death is part of life, but it is the part we want way off in the future, not here and now.

My condolences to all who have lost loved ones to death, particularly this time of year.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just wondering why more suicides happen in Spring...I personally would have thought winter due to the cold and dreariness...your thoughts?

Dr. Richard Keller said...

Most (but not all) deaths by suicide occur not at the darkest depths for an individual, but as their motor retardation from those depths begin to lift, so Spring "makes sense" in that regard.