At what age did you become very aware that one day you will die?

Question

I'm 26 and I must say I've become very aware of my mortality...

I should add to all those who are saying 4, 5 or 6 that I have obviously always known that people pass away, and have always known I would one day - but lately it's on my mind a lot. I've had three deaths in 2 years, 2 of them being people roughly my age and I'm just very conscious of it at the moment.

I was curious with regards to other people's experiences and if there was a factor which made people think about it, or if there was a rough age range in which the concept became very real. So far the answers have been very interesting.

Answer 1

I understood that all people, myself included, were going to die when I was maybe 6 or so, but I didn't fully realize my own mortality until I got very ill at 24 years old. I had a stroke and required open heart surgery, and had complications from this surgery, and it really shook me up. I went from being a healthy, care-free young woman to someone who almost died in a matter of one day and I've never been able to go back to being that care-free young woman since then.

A lot of people that get very ill say it gives them a new lease on life, and they are going to live life appreciating every day. That's great, and I commend these people for having such a great perspective, but I wonder if this happens to older people. You know, maybe they go along with getting old and slowing down, then something happens and it wakes them out of that rut. But when you are young and in college and are already having the time of your life, when something like this happens it tends to make you more cautious, more introspective. It has the opposite effect, I think. Because here you are young, taking your health for granted, not even really thinking about it, and then, out of the blue, you are hit with contemplating how fragile we all are, how we could all be taken away in an instant. Truly realizing your own mortality at such a young age is not a good thing. It felt...unnatural, almost.

A few years after my illness my father passed away and it made the whole mortality awareness even more acute than it already was. It's been 4 years now and it has gotten easier to be more relaxed about it all than it was in my mid-20s, but I will always see life differently because of these experiences.

Answer 2

4

Answer 3

I went through this at the age of about 17 maybe 18, I had been abusing drugs for around 2 or 3 years and life was becoming strange and surreal, I then quit using and reality hit me really hard, since leaving school I had been stuck in this place where you can drift off to another world another life, then when I quit everything came flooding in, I have never regretted using because it truly opened up my eyes to the real world, including death I became unbelievably paranoid about death just petrified of getting cancer and even gettin hit by cars or car crashes, believe me it was crazy, all your life you think you are invincible that you are different to everyone else, that you are special, then BLAM!! You realise you aint, and become very aware of how vulnerable you really are. Sorry I don't mean to go on but as you can tell I went thru it just like a few of the others who answered your question. Thanks.

Answer 4

i have always been aware, but actually thought about it around 8yrs. old. But in many old countries, years back anyway, cemetary's were used more like parks to some, usually of lesser known religious backgrounds. Even today, althought cemetary's are different here, it's my favorite place to walk. We used to picnic there, take care of our family/friends sites, often a sight or two of the forgotten. It was always a peaceful and comforting place to be. Might be why many of us, accept young and have no fear of the natural progression of aging and death. My son plans to go into the army, there was talk one night at a large dinner party as to the benifits of the army, when my son, who had thoroughly investigated all aspect of the army life, perked right up, proudly and spoke of the burial ceramony and sites. You should have seen the looks on every face there! It shocks me why ppl have such a problem with their mortality? Especially when there's not a dam thing anyone can do about it, in a lot of cases ppl are gone before they even realise it.

Answer 5

Hi,

Five when my dad died in car accident. All children have a certain amount of understanding about what dying is...although they aren't capable of comprehending it fully. Ever since then I've been aware of death, it's consequences and being aware of the fact I will die myself one day! For a long time I went through a period worrying myself sick about dying and being scared about dying, people around me dying etc and it had a detrimental effect on my life. Then I embraced the idea of dying and believe that everybody has a time to go regardless of surrounding situations, so if i'm in that situation i.e terminally ill etc, I think I will be able to accept it and be happy that I lived the life I had :-)

Answer 6

I was 5. My parents were very sociable people and one night they had a barbeque and invited other couples and their kids. My mom said that one of the little girls could spend the night with me. She (probably 7 or so) told me that one day I would die and be put in a black casket and be put into the earth to rot while worms ate me up. I started crying and asking my parents questions after that. I think most people start to truly realize their mortality after their late 30s or early 40s. At least that's how it was for me. The young seem to be fearless.

Answer 7

Of course like you said, I knew about death at a young age. But my mortality really became real when I became a parent. It's one of the most sorrowful feelings in the world- thinking about not being there for my child one day. But it's best not to think on these things and just enjoy each day we have.

Answer 8

I think it was at the age of 22 or late 21 at least.

I had an apendicitis which lead to Peritonitis. THe infection to my intestine and my bloodstream could have killed me. Since then I've been aware but not too bothered by Death.
It happens. Can't avoid it, but we can do a lot in our lives before the time comes.

Answer 9

Sometime around 1982 when I was 22 and had a very bad accident at work,,I used to work on the railways then and got dragged for some distancs along the track by a loco

Answer 10

i do no longer think of that is an age ingredient. while i exchange into sixteen i exchange into confident i does no longer make it previous the age of 18. when I hit 18, i presumed each and every minute exchange into going to be my final, yet while no longer something exceeded off i found out i'm going to by no potential understand while my time will come. Now I plan for the following day, yet I stay for as we talk. i'm unsure I understand approximately how politicians greater healthful into it however.