Been a cold, wet, wintery week in downtown Wagga. Am looking forward to Spring.

One of the hardest things we have to deal with is death, especially when it’s someone famous or a loved one. We process it as an ending.

When Olivia Newton-John passed away on the 8^th August, my first reaction when I heard the news was “It can’t be. It must be someone else”.

As the evidence appeared that she had died from cancer, I had to accept the fact she had passed.

What’s interesting is, besides being a great singer, she did a lot of work for charity and helped people with cancer. I haven’t heard one person say a bad thing about her. Such a beautiful soul.

My heart went out for her husband and her daughter and how they would be feeling.

Unfortunately, death is something that is going to happen to all of us.

While some say it is an ending, others say it is a beginning with life being eternal.

I have had many clients who have had a death experience where they have died and then been resuscitated. Interestingly, they all have a similar story.

It’s up to you to have your own belief on what happens and feel at peace with it.

From 35 years of helping people deal with their emotional life, I have learnt:

1. Make the best of your relationship with loved ones. When a person dies suddenly, loved ones often live in regret because they haven’t done all the things they wanted to do with them. I think, if one of my family passed, have I lived my best life with them?

2.  Tell people how you feel. Many have not told the deceased person how much they loved them. Ensure you tell people everything that needs saying while they are alive.

3. Make sure you have your affairs in order. I’m amazed at how many people do not have wills. In Australia, this means everything you own goes to the Government until someone can prove it should go to them. Also, let your solicitor/accountant/financial planner know where all your investments are so people do not have to go hunting. Tell family members who has this information.

Here’s an interesting exercise to get you thinking: If you knew you only had 12 months to live, what would you be doing in the next 12 months?

Would it be what you are doing now or something different?

What have you been putting off?

The fact is, your life is finite. Are you doing everything you want to do or are you living life with the handbrake on and perhaps just existing?

It’s time to take stock and start living.

Not foolishly or in a hap-hazard way. Live in a way that brings you joy and begin ticking the things on your bucket list.

You do have one, don’t you?

Let’s live life.