I spent yesterday watching the ABC inspiring documentary Old People’s Home for 4-Year-olds, the premise is a group of 4 years old would visit an aged care facility and re-inspire a group of 70 and 80-year-olds to partake in life again. But what if you don’t make it to 70 or 80 like my friend who passed away at Burning Man this week in what would seem the most extraordinary circumstances. He is the third person I have known this year who has passed before their time. One of them gave me a download as follows: Get on with your passion and dreams, I am living evidence that you cannot guarantee you will be here tomorrow, so get on with it.

As the title of this blog says, Death takes no bribes, so how has society spoken about those that we lose earlier than we expect, here are some of my favourites:

1. For me, it was Fathers Day in our country yesterday, even though it has been over 9 years my dear dad passed away I still remember his quirky habits that I loved so dearly.

2. Because they are not here to answer it in the flesh: Too Young To Die.

3. The three people I knew said this in their own unique ways.

4. It is very rarely we assume that the goodbyes we say to our beloveds will be the last time we have the opportunity to: The Last Goodbye.

5. Charles Palahniuk (born February 21, 1962) is an American novelist and freelance journalist, who describes his work as transgressional fiction. He is the author of the award-winning novel Fight Club, which also was made into a popular film of the same name.

6. I think every human on earth has an unfinished story in their life: The Unfinished Story.

7. One of my favourite stories relating to this is when a butterfly magically appeared when he was selling his dearly departed’s car.

8. Lest we forget: Never Forget You.

9. Time to go out bush and look at the Milky Way again.

10. What is it that reminds you of your departed? For me, it is the meditation stool my parents brought me as a surprise birthday present: There You’ll Be.

11. Loving memories cannot be taken from us.

12. At what age the person is this doesn’t matter, I missed with my mum, I was on the way to see her when she passed. And all the younger souls, who would have thought you would not get the chance again.: How Long Will I Love You.

13. A positive way to remember those who have passed.

14. It may be one year, thirty or ninety years, remember how lucky you were to receive the blessing of their life: Sunbeams.

15. And for our final lesson, remember they always remain in your heart if they may no longer be here physically.

So taking my friends download to heart, lets get out there and live our lives to the fullest.

The playlist begins with the man and finishes with the women. First, we have Jamiroquai, then Jeff Buckley. Our unknown entry is from South Africa, their name is Stimela. Zara Larsson starts the women, followed by Faith Hill. The penultimate song is Elliot Goulding and we finish with Lil Bo Weep and Zheani: Death Takes NO Bribes.

So given that we rarely know when our loved ones will pass, remember to live from Love and Respect from All, Everyone Included. Also if you wish to receive my blogs on a regular basis remember to sign up on the email list. Until we meet again, dear friends.