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| Elizabeth D. Johnson Legal Assistant |
Growing up, you never truly think about getting old – which is strange because you obviously know that people get old. Your parents are old, your grandparents are really old, some have even passed away along with the other relatives you never got to meet. For me, I never actually felt like that was going to happen to me but I do remember the shift in reality when it finally hit me…oh damn, I’m going to DIE one day?!? That sucks!
I used to have panic attacks just thinking about death until I started my current job. In short, we prepare people for death and help those whose loved ones have passed, so I either had to come to terms with it or let my boss know I’d be in the fetal position every afternoon from 12-3. So, even though I’m only 28, I have already started to accept death. Obviously, if some voodoo doctor comes along and tells me they have a concoction for everlasting life, I will for sure gulp it down like Meryl Streep in Death Becomes Her. Considering that doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon, I’ve decided I must to come to terms with the fact that we all have to die one day, and yeah it does suck, but what can you do?
As I’m nearing the age of 30, I’m realizing just how short life can be. Some have not been as lucky as I am to live even this far, and people take life for granted every day. I still take life for granted every day. None of the trivial things should matter. What should matter is the fact that I have all of these wonderful people in my life, who care about me. I have a roof over my head and food to eat and a car that doesn’t break down constantly. While the goals that I set in the past now actually have deadlines, I should feel grateful to even have goals. No one knows what happens after you die and it is up to you what you believe, but regardless you can’t put things off. You are fragile, your loved ones are fragile. Tell everyone how much you love them, or how much you hate them – just tell people how you feel!
People will leave your life all the time – whether it’s a fight that wasn’t worth resolving, someone moving away, or you know…dying, so it’s important to remind yourself every day that you are not invincible like your 13-year-old self once thought. Work hard at making yourself happy and making the people around you happy. Go outside more, meditate, eat carbs, and try not to die yet.