An Enlightening Experience with Death

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An Enlightening Experience with Death

I can choose from a range of numerous experiences in respect to the following discussion. However, none of them has elicited an emotional response as much as my encounter with the remnants of demise. I am aware that death is a rather ominous topic across every culture due to the implications that it causes especially to those that directly face it. In this case, my experience with death is something that I did not anticipate in any way. Based on the life that I have lived so far, I can say with certainty that I never knew what death was or what sentiments it imposed. In fact, it was difficult for me to empathize particularly in relation to close friends and relatives that went through the event in question. Nonetheless, a few weeks ago, I felt the implications of death, mainly because of a personal misfortune I suffered.

Nobody prepares you sufficiently for death. In fact, the topic of death is shunned to the extent that it is usually ignored up until it takes place. For me, this was evidently true. As mentioned, I was a rather insensitive person when it came to the issues of demise. For those that suffered any personal calamity, all I could do was give them a hug or utter a plaintive “sorry” or “condolence.” After all, my words could not gratify the feeling of loss to any extent. However, after going through the recent misfortune, I began experiencing various yet chaotic sentiments that I did not comprehend at first. Foremost, I was in a stage of denial since I could not believe that a person so close to me would suddenly be deemed out of existence. Even though the truth was staring me in the face, a part of me hoped that my close friend would send me a text message or call me and tell me that it was all a joke.

As the days passed, I became more reclusive and silent. Despite being a jovial person, the event that I underwent disrupted my natural enthusiasm. For a significant period, I was grief-stricken; in the shoes of the people that had experienced the same situation that I was going through. I began to gain an understanding of how words such as “sorry” and “my condolences to you and your family” felt sufficiently reassuring. However, as time progressed, the same words caused a deep-seated rage within me; something that I did not comprehend. While coming to terms with my loved one’s demise, I started feeling as if I was wronged. Indeed, anger became a significant yet variable sentiment that allowed me to turn my grief into a form of hate, resentment, and criticism of God, the world, and life itself. I envied those that were happy and empathized with those that were going through profound sadness.

My anger rapidly dissipated and morphed into depression. Ironically, this moment of psychological despair considerably brought me to accept what had happened. In my brief struggle with depression, I finally understood the implications of the loss that I have experienced. The great breakthrough undeniably arrived at the cost of my sanity. Nonetheless, better days lay ahead as I ultimately entered into the final stage of acceptance. Ever since I lost my loved one, I began seeing the world from my perspective without considering the fact that other people were suffering as much as I was. Indeed, I accepted, understood, and valued those that shared my grief more considerably than I could ever have done if death had not struck.