What do Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, and Shelton Elkins have in common? They all passed away this week. My deepest condolescences go to their families and friends.

We all die. We will never know when or how. But, WE die. There is nothing we can say or do that will change that particular problem. Losing people we love is always challenging and it may take a while for some to recover from it.

I remember MJ’s trials and how half the world condemned and judged him. I remember when most said that his musical career was dead. Simply put, he was hated for years. And now that he has gone, the whole world is on its knees, singing his praise. Former judges have become worshippers (except for Perez Hilton, maybe). Haters are now lovers of his music.

I never watched Charlie’s Angels except when the movie was released. I heard of Farrah Fawcett through Who’s the Boss and I know she had cancer. And Ed McMahon is unknown to me. On the other hand, Shelton Elkins is not. He was a friend and a tremendous writer.

I am a fervent user of  Twitter. I also like Facebook. Yesterday, I saw the most incredible amount of messages about MJ and FF. Everybody was understandably sad. I also saw another side of the coin: people starting to spread rumours about other people dying. I will not comment on that, because it would be a waste of time and energy. Those people were obviously looking for some publicity.

However sad those past events have been, they have also brought millions of people closer. While this particular fact is great in itself, it also makes me wonder about one thing: when somebody is alive, people pinpoint each one of their faults and mistakes. When they pass away, they realize how much they loved them. Why wait until Death is around the corner to finally focus on a person’s achievements?

My aunt was 52 when she died from breast cancer; my mother committed suicide at 54; and my grandfather passed away last year after losing both his legs and his desire for life. I may not understand what they went through. However, I know what a life of anger and pain can lead to.

I am far from being perfect. I am stubborn and sometimes a little moody. However, when I make a decision, I know I will never regret it. So, let me tell you this. Do not wait until someone passes away to tell them how much you love them. Do not dwell on the past or the pain they may have put you through. If you have a bone to pick with someone, talk things over in a respectful manner and start with a clean slate. If it is not possible, then write them a letter. Just do what you can to be at peace with them and yourself. I did that with my family members. And it helped me experience death in a positive way…