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Reflections on Life and Death from a Dying Man - The Article Everyone Should Read

I’ve been thinking about a very moving article about life and living by a 31 year old dying man. I first came across it toward the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 and sporadically I keep coming back to reread it.

Maybe it was the timing of when I came across this article in The Guardian, but it has had such a profound and lasting effect on me. In fact, Elliot Dallen, the author of the article, has had such a transformative effect, I now realise that I’ve been trying to live in the way he felt was important. It resonated so deeply and so strongly within my soul, it’s left a permanent impression.

I have shared this article with people in the past. I don’t think I shout about it as much as I should. It needs to be known, to be read and to gain new readers. I will be as bold to say it needs to continue to be heard, read and felt for the rest of time until we as humanity no longer exist. In fact, when I list out the ways he thinks we should live, I’ve eerily and unknowingly stated a lot of the same things in previous posts. 

He mentions:

  1. the importance of gratitude; 
  2. a life, if lived well, is long enough; 
  3. the importance of being vulnerable and connecting with others; 
  4. doing something for others;
  5. protecting the planet.

I’m so sad that Elliot didn’t get to see how he left a lasting impression in such a simple and beautiful way. Even in his dying weeks and days, he was able to give back through his vulnerability, wisdom and humanity. 

Thank you Elliot. Thank you for sharing your heart and thoughts so I can learn to live life more honestly. 

While I was locating the article links, I found out that this article made it into The 200 Moments That Made the Guardian during The Guardian’s 200th birthday celebration in May 2021.

He had also written another moving article during the first lockdown which I discovered at a later date. 

Sometimes you read things that stay with you and this personally, has stood the test of time. 

I know this is a short blog post. I could pad it out more but it’s completely unnecessary when the articles speak for themselves.

I dare you not to be touched or moved by them in some way. 

I hope you find something of what I’ve found in his writing. 

Failing that, I hope for the briefest moment, it makes you reflect on your life.

The hyperlinks are in the main body of the post. For completeness and ease, I’ve also posted them below.

At 31, I have just weeks to live. Here's what I want to pass on

Terminal cancer means I won't see the other side of lockdown

*Featured image was created using Microsoft CoPilot Designer powered by DALL-E 3

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Location: United Kingdom

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