I agree with many of the responses where it was stated that it is very difficult or impossible to say what one would be able to die for until the person is placed in the situation. As a student of psychology and human nature, I sincerely believe that mental preparation by repeatedly rehearsing one's actions prior to an event, regardless of how unlikely, will increase one's capacity to follow through with the desired action. I would want to exhibit such courage as to give my life up so that my wife and children would have the opportunity for a full life, even at the expense of one they love. Grief is only for a time, were I to give my life in exchange for their life, they would have the chance to come to terms with their grief and move on to a full life. I continually rehearse the feelings I expect I would feel in such a situation so that should I ever experience that type of situation, I will be able to act decisively and fullful in death the very values and ideals I hold in life.
What would I die for?
I've already said my family (wife, kids, siblings, parents).
I'd die for my faith. History has proven the power of martyrdom. The death of a person who believes strongly in something tends to encourage that belief in others. The fact that some one believes so strongly that they would give up their life for that very thing is an inspiration to those who know that person. It is in the face of death that all our values and ideals become distilled to those few things we hold most dear. I was mere millimeters from severe brain damage and/or death. In the days following, I had the opportunity to evaluate my values and ideals to weed out those that were irrelevant and cling dearly to those with impact beyond myself.
As stated above, we will all die some day. Everyone dies. What matters most is what impact you have had on the people around you that they can pass on to future generations. Hopefully my life will have had a positive impact on the future of my children and the other people my life touches. If dying will further magnify that impact, then I'm all for it. Bring it on!
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Imagination is more important than knowledge.
----Albert Einstein
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