If I was a young man, I think I'd be devastated to learn I have just 365 days until I'd die. I'd feel sorry for myself, and the fact that I would not get to live the length of time most people do, would weigh heavily on me for each of the upcoming 365 days.
If there was any way possible that I could remain calm after hearing the news, and then be brave and do something positive say, for each day I had left, I still can't imagine finding peace with it as a young man.
I've never feared death, even as a young man. I had no physical hindrances, so I figured if I died then, it would be because of an accident or some other situation in which death would come quickly. I’d prefer a "Wham bam thank you ma'am" sort of exit. It would be less of a big deal than all the suffering and stuff.
I'm not a young man now however. Though I don't feel much different physically at this point, I know that the longer I live, the closer I'll get to the point when I will experience physical deterioration and have to refrain from normal activities. So even though I feel fine now, and still have some energy in the tank, I know what's ahead.
If I was told today that I had 365 days to live, I think I'm more "equipped" to deal with the news in a less freaked-out manner.
I think that after I'd gotten over the shock of the initial diagnosis, I'd then be able to sit down and make a plan for what I would do each remaining day. I don't have a "bucket list," but I'd probably get one drawn up fairly quickly so I could actually begin my final journey on earth ASAP.
I'd visit places I'd always wanted to visit, and make sure I got around to all of the people I'd need to say goodbye to. I wouldn't fear adding something to my list that possibly earlier in life I'd sworn I would never do, like skydiving, for example. It's something I think would be cool to do, but I've always been scared to do it.
I would still not sit on a two-inch wide ledge of a high-rise building on a bicycle in New York City though, in an attempt to satisfy some craving inside for performing daredevil acts at great heights, because my doing that could be considered attempted suicide.
The only way that I would commit suicide, would be if there was something coming, a catastrophe that would definitely result in my experiencing a slow, agonizing, and painful death.
So, to summarize, at this point of my life I believe that I am much better prepared to face being told I have one year to live. What I am experiencing as I get older, is that the idea of my death becomes more and more acceptable to me.
Death is part of life, and I believe that it’s probably normal for most of us to accept death more readily as we age day by day. That is my personal experience anyway.