A good life

So, in order to have a good death I need to live a good life.  That's the bottom line in Buddhism.  Or one of them.  And one of the ways I can get closer to that is to meditate.  Never been very good at that in the traditional sense.  I can meditate on subjects but as far as clearing my mind....?  Although I have noticed that the older I get, the easier it is to not hang onto thoughts.  Hmmmmmmm.