When we’re born, we begin our journey of life and also our journey toward death. The moment of our birth is a known event witnessed by others, but none of us know the precise moment we’ll die. As a practicing psychotherapist for over 35 years, I’ve witnessed many human responses to death — denial, fear, urgency, regret, hope, belief, and longing. It’s frequently noted that humans are the only creatures that are conscious of their impending death. Our most common response is to tuck that knowledge into the back of our minds, but I’ve witnessed firsthand the benefits of having open and honest conversations about death. Many of us go to great lengths to avoid facing the reality that each and every one of us will eventually die.