Tears rolled down my cheeks as I reached the end of When Breath Becomes Air. Even though I knew from the beginning how the story would end, it still hit me like a punch to the heart. A part of me wished Paul could have had more time, more years to live, to love, to dream.
After finishing the book, I felt this hollow emptiness inside, a sadness I’m not sure will ever fully go away.
They say it’s the dying who teach us the most about life, and Paul Kalanithi’s story is proof of that.
When Breath Becomes Air is Paul’s honest and moving memoir about facing death at just 36, after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. As a neurosurgeon, he spent years saving lives, but suddenly he found himself on the other side as a patient trying to make sense of what it means to live when the future is slipping away. There’s this moment that stuck with me: “My life had been building potential, potential that would now go unrealized.” It’s a line that cuts deep because it’s not just about Paul, it’s about anyone who’s ever had their plans shattered by circumstances beyond control
Throughout the book, Paul’s honesty feels so genuine and unfiltered. He doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. Instead, he looks for the answers, shares his fears, hopes, and the small moments that made life beautiful even when it was ending. His writing feels like a quiet conversation about the hardest questions we all face: What makes life worth living? How do you find meaning when everything is uncertain?
No doubt Paul’s story is heartbreaking but also full of grace. It’s a wake up call to cherish the time we have, to live fully, and to hold close the people we love. When Breath Becomes Air is not just about dying, it’s about what it means to truly be alive.
If you feel like you are stuck and searching for meaning in life, do me a favour, give this a read. Thank me later :)