I am at that age where I go to more funerals than I will weddings. When my friend's wife died, not only does it remind me of my own mortality, I lapse into a period of time when I wonder whether I am living my life to the fullest.

Death does not frighten me. Sometimes life does, especially when it comes to how I spend my days while the clock winds down. So many people seem to miss opportunities to be truly happy. They work all day. Year after year, they make money to buy things and pay off debt, never stopping to realize how unsatisfying their lives are.Arthur Miller's play, "Death of a Salesman," written over 60 yeas ago, is still relevant today. Biff Loman is a young man who struggles with the concept of chasing the American Dream and following his father's footsteps."To suffer 50 weeks a year for the sake of a two-week vacation when all you really desire is to be outdoors with your shirt off … (all this) to have to get ahead of the next fella. And still - that's how you build a future."The tragic story ends when Biff disappoints his father, gives up the 9 to 5 rat race and decides to live out West on a horse ranch.In the late 1960s a counterculture movement rose out of San Francisco. Hippies were young men and women who rejected the traditional lifestyle that brought upon stress, heart disease, depression, cancer and broken dreams, leaving their parents to face an early death. The hippies' overuse of drugs ended the movement, yet who's to say we have done anything since their crusade to improve our lives and reduce the stresses and diseases that send far too many to the doctor's office or to the local cemetery.In the movie "Dead Poet's Society," Robin Williams tells his class of wealthy students, "Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits to sustain life, but poetry, romance, love - these are what we stay alive for."We chase after happiness and success so that we can avoid regret when we lie on our deathbeds. Getting a high school diploma used to be a mark of success. Now a college diploma guarantees no one employment. We can think fulfillment is in the guy down the street who owns two BMWs and a 5-acre estate. What we don't know is he might be happier living in a refrigerator box than in a million-dollar house.Some people live as if they are dying.If happiness can be painted into a picture, what we see is not what we know. Visit people when they are behind closed doors in their houses. Study their faces, the tones of their voices. Their smiles and laughter may mask a deep sadness, a living death if you will.Since happiness is too personal to define for everyone, perhaps we can instead strive for peace of mind, a level of consciousness that allows us to appreciate our daily experiences, even the not so good ones that will teach us more about ourselves.Before we die, problems and trouble will find us along the way, yet if we learn from setbacks, we become stronger and look forward to celebrating the next sunrise and embracing a calendar of promising tomorrows.In his final days, Steve Jobs said, "Death is very likely the single best invention of life."His words remind me how meaningless existence would be if life on earth were eternal.I find my peace of mind in knowing that death is the great equalizer. Size of the headstone, the luxury car left in the garage, the expensive wine still in the rack no longer matter. Death treats the wealthy no different from the poor.So why do have to face the inevitable so seriously?"It's not that I'm afraid to die," said Woody Allen. "I just don't want to be there when it happens."Well, Mr. Allen, you will be there, and someday I will be at mine, too. In the meantime, let's just smile and go on living our lives.Rich Strack can be reached at

katehep11@gmail.com.