Life Lessons From A Deathbed

Dying? I’m quite looking forward to it.
~ Annie D.

Hey, Lovelies.

A friend of mine died. I couldn’t write about it yesterday – after she passed on Tuesday night – I was still too choked with emotion.

But she wanted me to write about it, so, here it is.

My friend Annie died the other night. She was 43, and she had lived with cancer and cancer recurrences for 20 years. Two years ago she decided to stop all treatment. Annie moved home with her parents, to a converted space under their house, and she spent her time reading, making art, drinking tea with friends and family, and spending hours in the garden or watching the world go by from her back deck.

I talked with her by phone or held Annie’s hand these last few days as often as I could. She was in a hospital not far from me, so it was easy to wait with her as that final slow process of letting go happened.

Annie asked me to blog about it. From her bed, the day before her death, she shared four points; her life and lessons in four sentences. Each was whispered to me, and Annie checked carefully that I had written what she told me word for word, on the back on an envelope I found in my handbag.

Annie died with no regrets. She wants you to know that. She died happy, ready to go, at peace with her life, and excited about what might come next.

Here’s her list:

She hoped you might find it helpful.

Journey well, beloved Annie, and thank you for sharing these hard-won wisdoms.
All my love, from here to eternity, Nicole xx