DailyThought #44 - Life After Death

After death takes someone from this life to whatever comes after, we are usually concerned about where they go and what they do. We have become quite creative with our ideologies on the matter; some being certain of what comes after life while others don’t have a clue. The idea of an afterlife sounds comforting but is unknown.

What we rarely focus on is how we live our lives after the death of someone we loved. Life after death can be hard. It is hopeless, sad, and scary. I like to think that those who die still have ties to our physical world. Whether they speak to us as a pretty bird flying by or the sun’s last beams bouncing off the clouds, as if they are back in our lives.

We usually aren’t too nice to ourselves after someone dies. The past is haunting, the present is uncomfortable, and a future coated in happiness doesn’t seem possible. For some people, it never is. One might think life feels more valuable after someone dies, and it probably is, but we rarely feel that way.

It is hard not to imagine that our fait is decided for us, and that scares me. I think we all want to live long happy lives. But they seem to be last shorter and shorter, and the long ones seem to be filled with more trouble than not. But that can be beautiful in itself. I like to tell myself, especially after a death, that the only reason I can feel happiness, is because I am familiar with its contrary. The happiest house in the world has a basement full of sorrow. I just hope we can organize it the best we can.

Wyoming by Benjamin Tod