3 Living as if one is dead

I have read a few japanese classics and was (maybe because of my misconception) shocked by how death was dealt with. It was said that if one had to choose between life and death death was preferable. I will tell my own opinion regarding how one should deal with this.

I believe one should be ready for death at any time. No one knows when he will die. This has the advantage of living ones life to its fullest. My mother has a cancer and this was maybe the best thing that could happen to her. She started looking at life in a different way ever since. Her life had gotten more precious in a certain way. She is still alive but I regard it as if she was already dead because I know death is imminent. Maybe she will still live a few years maybe she will be dead tomorrow. Maybe I will die before her. Does it matter if I have no influence on it? I attach no worth to my own life. I think of my death every day and it makes me cherish every moment even more.