Death, is inevitable.

Whether it’s being on the “wrong” side of I-5 when the Cascadia subduction zone ruptures or the body’s internal clock simply winding down to its final minutes, it is the one absolute truth of our collective existence. We are, all of us, dying.

Why then, do we go to such lengths to avoid talking about it?

This week, Susan McCabe brings us the story of one islander who took death by the figurative reins and saw it as a victory for life. The life that allowed him to choose his path, to set a date, plan a party, laugh, love and then say good-bye before the end stages of terminal lung cancer could take it all away from him.

Currently in the U.S. only Oregon, Washington and Vermont have Death With Dignity laws and while Montana does not have a law on the books, its supreme court has ruled that it is not illegal. With the options so limited, we’ve seen people like Brittany Maynard, the young woman from California with an aggressive brain tumor who hit the news cycles last fall when she went public with her choice to move to Oregon — specifically to take advantage of its longstanding Death With Dignity law.

Certainly one reason for avoiding the subject is that physician assisted suicide (PAS) is a topic that often provokes strong emotions on all fronts, and for a multitude of reasons. Some opponents believe these laws will open the door to caregivers ending the lives of vulnerable citizens. However, there is now 18 years worth of data that’s come out of Oregon and shows no evidence of this “slippery slope,” as it’s often referred to.

There is a significant difference between PAS and euthanasia, and the laws have been written with great care to reflect that, and to ensure the safety of those who cannot advocate for themselves.

For others the reasons are more personal and sometimes faith comes into play. But whether you are for, or against, or sitting somewhere along the fence, the bottom line is that some people want to have that choice. Who are we to say no?

There’s nothing more powerful than the desire to keep those we hold dear with us for as long as we can. Except for perhaps the love that leads to acceptance, and the strength to let go.

Greg Smith was a crusader for his choice. Let’s celebrate his life by being open to these conversations.

For more information about Death With Dignity in Washington, go to deathwithdignity.org or compassionwa.org.