Contemplating the great beyond
Death: It just might be the most uncomfortable topic on the planet, but it’s also the most universal and, dare we say, one of the most intriguing. This week, we’ve gathered a handful of fascinating stories about mortality saved by Pocket users. Save them to your own Pocket and dig in when you’re feeling open to considering one of life’s great mysteries.
Why I Hope to Die at 75
Ezekiel J. Emanuel, The Atlantic
Is there a magic age at which dying seems, well, right? Oncologist and bioethicist Ezekiel Emanual thinks so. Citing studies on the quality of life in old age and his own experiences with the elderly, he argues that it’s better to exit this world when you’ve still got some life left in you—and, by his calculation, 75 is the right age.
How Death Got Cool
Marisa Meltzer, The Guardian
What do you get when you cross Marie Kondo with hygge and throw in a dash of morbidity? Swedish death cleaning, the act of decluttering your life pre-death in the hopes of making things easier on your survivors. Sounds simple, but the first step—being willing to contemplate your own demise—is often the biggest hurdle.
One Man’s Quest to Change the Way We Die
Jon Mooallem, The New York Times Magazine
Death isn’t just a medical experience—it’s a human one. B.J. Miller, former executive director at Zen Hospice in San Francisco, is spearheading a movement to bring more mindfulness and compassion into traditional hospice care. Read this article not just for its insight into new ways to care for the dying, but for a touching story of the surprisingly reciprocal relationship Miller formed with one of his patients.
Digital Immortality: How Your Life’s Data Means a Version of You Could Live Forever
Courtney Humphries, MIT Technology Review
All those emails, texts, and posts could be adding up to something bigger than yourself—or maybe just another version of yourself? This article dives into an emerging technology that uses the digital data you’re already accumulating to create an eternal version of yourself that others can engage with long after you’re gone (and, as the article posits, maybe even while you’re still alive, too).
On a Lighter Note
We’re voracious readers here at Pocket, and we’re constantly posting links to the best stories we find online—including funny, unexpected and thought-provoking topics. Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for a curated stream of high-quality content worthy of your Pocket.
