that's actually an awesome parable. My mentality (after too many close calls, and many family/friend deaths) is that you cannot live without dying. To die is a part of living, every creature has its time. The important thing is to enjoy every second you can and learn from the seconds that you do not enjoy. The most powerful thing I've every heard, though, was a comercial, with a little girl asking "How do you want to be remembered? As the HS football player who scored with winning touchdown, or as the hero of the day, or as someone who made a difference?" (paraphrased, I don't remember it verbatim).
Death can be traumatic to those left alive, but their pain can be construed as the deceased's success in life. If you truly make an impact on someone else (or many people) you will never truly be dead, you will live on in the hearts of those who mourned for/learned from you.
Personally, I do not fear death at all (however I do fear pain, which I have felt a great deal and it plain sucks). However, I live my life to enjoy and experience/learn everything possible, but I do not wish to accelerate my death, however when it is my time, it is my time and I will go willingly.
life is too short to have any regrets