Death

"He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much." - Bessie A. Stanley

Death is not the end because we remember those who die and don't let their memory die. I have a friend who died, but I know that he'll always be with me because of who he was and how he lived. He lived life to the fullest and was a friend to everyone and, while he didn't live long, he lived successfully and I think that's so much more important. One thing that I learned from Norse Mythology is that "a coward believes he will ever live" - the Havamal. But you can't live life being a coward because you're not really living. You're just slowly dying without ever going out and living and laughing.

This quote also goes out to my grandfather, who died in November from heart complications. Before he died, he told my mom to "tell all my grandchildren I love them" and I don't think that I'll ever forget that because it was such a special moment to me. I wasn't there for his death, but I wrote a poem about it that I hope outlives me. For a little context, "Bo" is the name of my Grandpa.

My smile was cracking

My dad was packing

I just kept wracking

And weeping away

I didn’t know what to say

He was going to leave me today

He told me while I stood

He told me that it would

All be good

That you’re strong

That no one was wrong

That he finished his song

Part of me believed

But all of me still grieved

And I could not be reprieved

I couldn’t take the pain

I was left there in a stain

Not sure what to do with this rain

That kept falling from my face

You left me in this race

And I felt like a disgrace

Why’d you go

You left me, Bo

And now I’m here in this row

I heard the chime

And you failed the climb

And you closed your eyes for the last time.

I wrote this not long after he passed. My grandpa was always there for me and always lived life to the fullest. He was a fighter and he will be dearly missed. He lived life successfully, lived well and laughed a lot.

Death is not a beautiful thing, but it's necessary to give beauty to life. Lisa Yang once said, "there is no life without death. That is the true meaning of yin and yang." This quote is so true and we can't take for granted our life. We have to live each day to the fullest, laugh lots, and love even more.