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There Are Three Ways To Look at Death and All of Them Are Wrong
The Truth of Death
There are three ways to look at death and all of them are wrong.
1. Death as an inevitable tragedy.
We wonder at it, avoid thinking about it, honor it in predictable ways, and fetishize it all at once.
This is the death of black veils and funeral rites. It’s the death of people passing.
This death is written about in obituaries with the lines of people preceded by or survived by into death.
The death we watch in the movies but want to avoid dealing with in the news.
It’s the death happening to someone else.
2. Death as a gift.
It’s a reminder to “LIVE LIFE!” and go after your dreams. To invite you into mindfulness and gratitude.
This is the death of bucket lists and fighting cancer.
This is the death of final words and last times.
It’s the death that people wonder at, that inspires us to live, and that makes heroes out of those that enter its warm embrace with dignity and courage.
