(NPR) – Over time, that “death anxiety” transformed into something else: an appreciation for the present moment, says Park, who often writes about this topic on his Instagram. “When death is on the forefront of your mind, it’s almost like life gains this richer texture.”

Death is often an uncomfortable and even shocking topic for many people. But in his 10 years as a hospital chaplain — a job that Park describes as “a cross between a priest and a therapist” — he’s learned that talking about it can help prepare us for the reality that “it could happen, at any moment, to any of us.”

Park, author of As Long As You Need: Permission to Grieve, talks to Life Kit about what dying actually looks like — and what Hollywood gets wrong about a patient’s final moments. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. (Read More)