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A few days I was chatting with him. He was talking about him getting better and the best days ahead. He was in a Chennaihospital breathing his last. And I was busy texting him from Islamabad. We are good friends. Had the pleasure of meeting him a few years back and instantaneously decided to become friends.

We both were from New York and had a detailed conversation of the good old days. We lived in the same year and similar lifestyles. How life painted the same colors for different people. Later in the evenings we were talking together in the park talking about our kids and families. He loved fruits and we would walk outside for fresh air.

Our conversations are clear. We had a viewpoint of best practices and mindsets. He was very humble. Never complained and never despaired. He loved his wife and spoke much about her. He had three wonderful boys and spoke daily about them. The stories were fascinating in nature.

Sometimes you meet a great person and tend to have memories for a lifetime. You do not anticipate him or her withering away.

A few months later, he was getting ill. I was worried. I am sure his family was too. He had a rare lung disease. Immediately connected him with my brother who is a leading pulmonologistin the united stated of America. I got to know that the days are not there. He needs an urgent lung transplant. And that began his journey to India.

We were on chats. Talking about India and the wonderful thingsto do after recovery. Never once did he ever tell me he hated life, or this was unfair. I miss him.

This is the story of Saqib Azmat. A dear friend of mine that lost his life. But he won the hearts of his friends and family.

Let me tell you about the man who was humble and loved his family. A man who stood the test of time and ensured that he keeps fighting till the end. He was a warrior. He is a man of constant growth. He knew how to make friends and keep friendship alive.

I am sure that are many others that will tell you about him. I am not the only one he has impacted.

The story is about Saqib and many of him. We will all be leaving. Some leave with many years left behind. The question we pose as a psychologist is that death is also a phase, and it needs to be prepared for.

It is not a blind spot, and you anticipate it to hit you. There is a financial element to this but also a moral and emotional equation to look at. Prepare for the end keeping the long term in mind. Having children is a blessing. Leave them with memories and a reason to remember you. Tell them that you love them in a way that resonates many years later. Never leave any argument behind waiting for a tomorrow to begin. It never does.

You need to prepare for death. The first step is the acceptance phase. This cannot be denial. With that in mind, you need to be cognizant of the timeless notification. You do not know when that day will come. It will. So, acceptance is key. You get to realize the importance of saying the unsaid goodbyes earlier on.

Prepare for an end that is seamless in time. Be kind to people. Like Saqib was. Realize that you leave indelible imprints on people. The power of life is too great of a thing to pass away.

Saying goodbye is never easy. I never wanted to write this for Saqib. I was looking for many amazing days ahead and seeing our children grow up. I was looking forward to seeing him again in Karachi where I lost saw him and talk all night long about our odd experiences.

Maybe one day Saqib I will see you again. Till then, I will keep you in my prayers and let you rest in peace. You were a legend in the making and a man powerful enough to face death with acceptance and life. I do not even know how you could do that. That was the superpower you had.

Mr. Ahmed Sheikh is a highly accomplished psychologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in wellness, positive psychology, mindfulness, and depression management. His expertise extends to training police, corporations, institutions, and government agencies in leadership, management skills, and coping with various psychological challenges.