Farrah Fawcett passed away this morning at 9:30 AM in Santa Monica. As previously mentioned, she had been battling cancer for some time, and bravely allowed her struggles to be filmed for a television special that aired this past May. She is survived by her long-time companion Ryan O’Neal and their son Redmond.
We never know when our lives will end. It might be a car accident tomorrow, or a long illness over the course of years. If we’re wise, we treasure each hour, never knowing which one will be our last. This is, however, a difficult thing to do, to remain completely in the moment, to be properly thankful for each breath. Our minds make constant demands of us — worries about the minutiae of daily life, of fitting in, of being a good parent, friend, partner, child, sibling. It seems that it’s only when we’re faced with the true certainty of death that we finally realize what it means to be alive, and by then it’s too late.
A child should never have to watch a loved one die, but confronting the specter of death can have a powerful impact on a young psyche. It can help to broaden their minds to include new concepts. It can serve to introduce a bit of compassion for others. It can teach the concept of mindfulness, a state wherein we try to act with purpose, rather than simply reacting to stimuli.
If you are ever in the difficult position of needing to speak with your child about death, it should be stressed that it is not something to be feared, like the monster under the bed, but rather accepted as a natural process; part of the cycle all living things endure. Because we do not know when our time will come, it’s up to us to choose to live lives of which we can be proud.
Rest well, Farrah.
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