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You can mitigate the fear of death by finding meaning in life
The later years can be more peaceful if you reflect on your own life or take to volunteering and mentoring, says a senior.
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For many seniors, spirituality and existential reflection play a crucial role in navigating mortality, says the writer.
ST ILLUSTRATION: MIEL
Jeffery Tan
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As individuals enter their senior years, there is no avoiding thoughts of their own mortality. But in Asia, the topic of death is often met with fear, discomfort or an emphatic “Choy!” response as it is considered too inauspicious to even mention. However, approaching mortality with intentionality and meaning can profoundly enhance the quality of life in one’s later years.
The Singapore Department of Statistics and the World Population Report rank Singapore as seventh in the world for life expectancy, with an average of 84.27 years. This is behind Asian territories like Hong Kong, Macau and Japan, which rank second, third and fourth respectively.
