If you had only one day left to live, how would you spend it — and what would you deliberately avoid doing?
Recorded Amy Hempel said elsewhere, not written here
I think that dying might bring about a profound loneliness. I don’t feel lonely in life, but I do think this would be a very hard discovery at the end. Assuming there might be a time of consciousness, I think that serious medication might be a help. Not to put me out, but to smooth things over. The last time I had surgery, the anesthesiologist visited me in Recovery and gave me a sheet of paper on which was listed all of the drugs he had administered. I was glad to get it after the surgery, since I went down the list thinking, That’s what killed Michael Jackson, that’s what killed Prince. I don’t take recreational drugs, never did, but I would like to have the option of taking the edge off of fear. People I love at my bedside—I don’t see that being a comfort, but a reminder of who I’ll be losing. Music might be welcome. I could imagine wanting to hear Jorma Kaukonen sing “Genesis.”

Anna DeForest, A Good Exit, a five-part column, The Believer, 2 June 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 54 →
Dave Navarro Guitarist and songwriter; member of Jane's Addiction
To be honest, if it was my last day on Earth doing any type of work would probably be the last thing on my mind. So I don’t think there would be any professional endeavours on the last day on Earth. But, I’ve been to the North Pole so you might as well throw in the South Pole. Gotta check out the South Pole.
Recorded Clash, Last Day On Earth, 30 October 2009 source ↗
Pelle Almqvist Singer; frontman of The Hives
Maybe I would want to spend time with my child, but there are more things I want to do, so let’s hold on that. I would like to get moderately drunk walking around in a city with all my friends. I would like to be surprised by who shows up. We’d drink beer and liquor, maybe some red wine too. We’d be mixing everything, and there’d be no hangover the next day anyway!
Recorded Clash, Last Day On Earth, 6 July 2012 source ↗
Tori Amos Singer-songwriter and pianist
That’s the point. I don’t have to achieve today. For an over-achiever that would be quite an unusual day. But there would be mental photographs taken of dear friends and family so that I could create a virtual reality of them wherever I was going.
Recorded Clash, Swan Song, 28 April 2009 source ↗
James Yorkston Folk musician, singer-songwriter and author
If the rain held off, I’d walk down to Lough Ine, stopping at the shrine to say a few words to Herself and rile a few fairies. I’d take a sloop out, do a few perimeters and have a chat with Labhrai Loinsigh. I’d maybe walk up furry mountain and take in the view.
Recorded Clash, Swan Song, 29 January 2009 source ↗

More on death & what remains

Also answered this

Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Cory Taylor, James Yorkston, Andrew W.K., Tori Amos

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer