Death Reframed

(Originally Written May 2019)

On a tip, I acquainted myself with this little piece of heaven yesterday. Ironically, just prior to landing I was listening to an audiobook where the author was standing on the edge of a cliff pondering death. Here I was doing the same, just a tad shorter (30 feet maybe?). Yet I still needed to process this.

I’m okay, nothing like that. Relax.

Pondering how we learn to dread at all costs, despite its inevitability. The author was dead on, your body wants no part of getting closer and closer because it is trying to stay alive. Then when you get too damn close there’s a peace that came over me.

I went to where I’ve been the last six months and what i am about to embark upon. I’ve never been more excited for something in my life. I know it looks weird to others but quite frankly, I could give a rat’s ass. A never-ending road trip could well be my midlife crisis. I’m okay with that. Some choose sportscars and blondes young enough to be their daughters. I picked the open road.

As exciting as it is, it is also scary as hell. There is a whole lot of unknown, which to a guy that has been wired his whole life to have everything planned to a T, this is like death. That’s where a lot of fear comes from, the need to avoid death, or the ego’s idea of death. We don’t really talk about death. Well, beside how to avoid it.

Of course, the whole mission is to stave off the reaper as long as possible. We have our reasons why. A lot stems from fear of what comes next, which is what creates the pull for religion. It’s the ultimate Keno game. You pick numbers and hope for the best. There’s the transition process, what we actually experience. For me, the scariest part is what happens to those left behind when you go.

Here’s the thing. Most of it is out of our control. Yes, choices can (planned or not) expedite the process but the rest of it is really a great unknown.

What is very controllable though is attitude toward it. Fearing it is always an option but there’s a different way, even if it’s making my ego crazy to consider. What we just accepted the inevitability?

If death was a welcomed, accepted piece of life, it would reduce much of fear’s motivation. If that dissipated from becoming obsolete, what opportunities could that open up?

By finding peace with death, doesn’t that open up life? Certainly worth pondering…