"Now, it behoves him for whom death is his destruction, the earth his bed, the worm his intimate, Munkar and Nakir his companions, the tomb his abode and the belly of the earth his resting place, the Arising his tryst and Heaven or Hell his destiny, that he should harbour no thought or recollection but of death. No preparedness or plan should he have save for it, and his every expectation, concern, energy, waiting and anticipation should be for its sake alone."
Imam al-Ghazali, The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife.

The way one of my friends sees things, even though we may not have a terminal illness, we still could die at any time, so, in effect, we may as well think that we do.

Living with Cancer
http://www.eternal-optimist.ca/living/archives/cat_my_story.html

Die Well, Father
http://www.freewebs.com/qalam2/father_ssoekanto.htm

My Mother Has Cancer But Its the Time of My Life
http://www.freewebs.com/qalam2/mother_ssoekanto.htm