Dealing with Death..

I am sorry for your loss.  

I think you are right on the money in 1-3.

#4 is debatable.....striving to always be better, in any endeavor, IS the scope of life IMO.

I wish you well in the days ahead, and hope for you a speedy journey to remembering your friend with a smile.  It's not an easy thing for sure.

What a tragedy.  I can't imagine not wearing a seatbelt, it's such an automatic for me.  Thank you for sharing and I'll keep you and your friend's family in my prayers.

I'm so sorry to read about your friends passing. So sad. Your points are right on. I lost my son, and only child, 8 years ago after a 27 year struggle with a lifelong terminal disease. The one blessing from knowing that I would likely lose him before I died, is that we never wasted any time. We lived life to the fullest and never let a day go by without letting each other know we were loved and appreciated. We don't get to do this again (at least not in this form) so do it right and do it now.

Also, in time, hopefully you will be able to focus on all the positive ways you touched each others lives, and fun memories, and less and less on the sadness of no longer having your friend here with you in the physical sense.

lol

Thoughts and prayers are with you & friend's family.  

Your words are wise, indeed.  Through the heat of training & competition it's too often forgotten what is truly important.

I learned that lesson 7 years ago when I got the call that my father was killed in a car accident. 

Never hang up the phone from a loved one without telling them that you love them.

Why is this "lol" ?

To the OP: So sorry for your loss.

Sorry for the loss. You never stop feeling the loss but the pain does ease off. I've lost friends and family prematurely. In addition, as a trauma surgeon, I deal with the emotion almost every day. Learn to enjoy life. Relax. Use this sport as therapy.