Oddly Me

Emotional level: 7

Mental level: 7

TODAY I LEARNED: The Bible doesn’t say the forbidden fruit was an apple…

Why does death bother us so much? What makes it so scary and horrible that we do everything in our power to try and prevent it at all costs? The word death itself carries negative associations with it. Over time, we have come to know death as something sad and horrible. People often see it as an end with no light at the end of the tunnel. In truth, death is completely natural and it happens to everyone and everything. The bottom line: death is simply a part of a natural cycle. It isn’t just an end. After death comes a new start and new life. Whether you believe in reincarnation or heaven, I believe there is definitely more.

These past two weeks I have been engulfed by the topic of death. All throughout the movies and tv shows I watch, or the conversations I have, death just seems to stay at the forefront. I would have to say, of all the fears I struggle with, death is the one I have the biggest issue with. It’s a common and powerful fear, but death doesn’t have to be a bad thing. As a society, we paint death as horrible, when in reality, death is completely normal.

Just recently, one of my friend’s suffered a great loss in his family. His dad passed away and it happened all too soon. The events that have followed since his passing have been covered in sadness and grief. One of the hardest things we can do is watch our loved ones grieve over someone.

On top of that, my significant other has been grieving over the anniversary of his father’s death. None of this has been easy for either of them. Death simply isn’t easy. My heart truly breaks for them. It always seems like death is harder for those who are still alive.

It’s difficult to find the right words because you want them to know you care, but you don’t want to tell them the same thing they’re going to hear from everyone else, hundreds of times. What we tell people when they’re grieving is often the best we have to say because most of the time, we’re not sure what to say. “I’m sorry” or “you’re going to be okay” are phrases that just don’t seem to have a lasting impact anymore.

Amidst it all, I have no words. I have nothing to say that will bring absolute comfort to my friend or my boyfriend and I wouldn’t want to lie to them. The only thing I know for sure is that it will get better. Life will improve until the next issue arises because life is an up and down cycle that we all must face. The best way to handle everything is to ride the waves. We can’t change the ups and downs, but we can certainly change how we handle them. Life doesn’t come with instructions…so we simply do the best we can with what we have.

I wish we didn’t have to die. I wish that we could all live forever and find peace throughout our lives, but that simply isn’t so. Death is a part of life. I feel my own loved ones here and there. I know a lot of people won’t believe in it, but they’re with us. Those who have passed on are watching over us and they continue to do so. I believe that, and I hope you do too.

The best we can do is live our lives until it is our time. When that time comes, whether we are ready or not, death is inevitable, but with good reason. Just remember that death is simply a transition. Death eases us to the next phase in life. But that doesn’t make it any less sad, I know.

Death, as a whole, is often sad.

Blessed Be )O(