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Recently my childhood friend lost her dad which started me thinking about loss. Unfortunately, I know first hand about losing a loved one. Having experienced losing my own parents and countless other relatives and friends, some age related others through accidents, I can attest that the heartache is a pain too deep to measure.

Death and dying are two words we don’t often talk about and sometimes we can’t seem to find the right words to express our feelings when a dear one losses someone. “Sorry” seems inconsequential as a word to express sympathy. We are “sorry” for their loss, but do we truly realize the pain that others suffer after a death has occurred?

Grief affects people differently and should never be judged by others. As individuals are completely different from one another, it follows that we grieve differently, too. As we all know, death is a part of life. You can not have one without the other, but thinking about our own demise can be alarming. I believe it is the unknown that is ultimately terrifying. Having faith in an afterlife is comforting and brings peace to those who truly believe. To not fear death is something my mother did gracefully. Her tremendous belief in God, gave her strength to pass from this life unafraid. Other individuals just want time to reflect on their memories; or even, perhaps, consider how they will be remembered after experiencing a loss. We can help each other through this strenuous period with compassion and love.

Unfortunately, we can not escape loss. As we give our love and yearn for receiving love, we must understand the cost, and be willing to endure the heartache. Loss is a difficult journey and we all deal with it in our own way. Living a life full of substance, showing others kindness and love can be a fulfilling objective as we all get a little closer to our own dying day. To be memorialized as a good soul while leaving a piece of your heart with others, in my opinion, is to have lived “a life well lived”.

A bit of reflection,

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