I understand that, as a human being, death is inevitable. We will all die, one of these days. That thought is a bit terrifying for me—I don't want to miss out on anything that could happen in the future. The defeat of cancer into forever being a disease that is completely treatable and curable. The books that I won't ever get to read. The music that I won't get to listen to. The true equality of race, sex, gender, class and other discriminated peoples. The dogs that I won't be able to pet. Yes, some of these are more serious than others, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make me sad to know that I might not see all of these things happen.
When a person talks about someone dying, they usually try to bring up the memories of that loved one. We try to think of the good moments, the funny times, the best qualities of that person. When you recently lose a loved one to the Grim Reaper, one starts to think, what will they be remembered for when their time has come.
Of course, we don't really have too much control over what we will be remembered for. We would like to think that we will be thought of fondly because of our beaming smiles, our great attitudes toward others or some great achievement that we contributed toward the greater good of society. Yes, most likely if you do these things, that is what you will be remembered for. What about your supreme stubbornness, or that sometimes you are an insufferable know-it-all or that maybe you sometimes would laugh at the most inappropriate moments?
Knowing that we have a short time on this world is something that is concerning to a lot of people. That's why phrases like: carpe diem or #YOLO became so prevalent—to try and make us all accept our inevitable demise. That one day, we will be in the ground. So, rise up! Go try something new and make a difference in the world if you can. Don't be afraid to be the person you have always wanted to be. Add another minor because you have the time or just try a new sport. Fall in love and have your heart broken. Experience all that you can. Travel around the world, eat new food, make new friends. There is so much out there.
Life can be taken away from us so quickly. If it isn't our own life, that it is of those we love. Appreciate the friends you have, the family you were born with, the animals you have gotten to pet and love. Tell them that you love them, sometimes we forget that we might not get to say it again.
Life isn't easy, no one said it was, take the struggles with the victories. Remember that everyone is trying to fight their own battles. Maybe don't judge that person on the street so harshly because of what they are wearing or doing. They might just be doing something that they love and who are you to try to take that away from them.
Take what I've said with a grain of salt, I don't know your story and I don't expect you to know mine, but just think about how fleeting these moments are to enjoy ourselves, even with the turmoil that we have in our world.
