When Caitlin Doughty, the book's author, started working at Westwind Cremation, she did not expect to face numerous difficulties. For instance, one of her first tasks was to shave and prepare a man named Byron for cremation. At first, Caitlin was amazed and felt awkward, especially when she saw the man's dead eyes. But Caitlin did the task and, in the end, felt a strange sense of strength and understanding of the transience of human life. What initially seemed uncomfortable and difficult led her to valuable reflections on life.

The next day, a woman named Padma was brought to the crematorium. Because of her rare skin disease, her entire body turned black, her hair was tangled, and her face was covered in mold. It was a horrifying sight for Caitlin, but the fear and shock did not stop her. At that moment, she demonstrated professionalism because her boss, Mike, had warned the young worker that the crematorium was not a place for emotions.

Moreover, Padma's condition was a vivid reminder of the harsh reality of death. In books and movies, human death is often romanticized. In Edgar Allan Poe's poem, Annabel Lee is calm and beautiful while dying. However, in life, death can be cruel. Throughout her time working at the crematorium, Caitlin has seen all kinds of people: the elderly, those who survived illnesses, and those who were brutally murdered. For Caitlin, each time was a kind of challenge that brought shocking discoveries. Nevertheless, it all revealed to the author the reality of death and how much we should appreciate life.

However, the fear disappeared over time, and Caitlin realized that any new experience, no matter how scary, should be accepted. After all, thanks to this, you become a professional and discover new things in life. Any problem or difficulty should be approached with patience and attention, which we often lack under challenging circumstances. Remember that difficult moments make us stronger, and sometimes, we have to experience them to get to know ourselves and life better.