Greetings beautiful soul.
Our human journey begins with birth.
And in this physical realm,
Eventually brings us to a sacred transition we call death.
For many of us,
We celebrate new beginnings.
We gather round births with excitement,
Love,
Lights,
And joy.
Yet conversations about death.
Are often pushed far from our minds.
Whether death arrives suddenly,
Or we bear witness as a loved one reaches their sunset.
The impact of such an experience is as unique.
As each of us.
Grief,
Pain,
Disbelief,
Anger,
Acceptance,
Relief,
And so many other emotions may arise.
But what would it mean?
To enter into a relationship with death.
To invited in.
To sit with it.
And to come to know it.
Not as something to fear.
But as something that is part of the human experience.
The following is a conversation with death.
It may bring up uncomfortable feelings or memories.
I invite you to care for yourself while listening.
Perhaps you place a hand over your heart.
Take slow and steady breaths.
Allow tears to come.
Or even pause the recording.
Whatever you need.
Give yourself permission.
You showed up unannounced.
And frankly.
Unwanted.
You knocked on my door,
And when I opened it,
You barged right in.
I wasn't even ready to receive you.
The house wasn't ready.
The fridge wasn't stocked.
I wasn't even dressed appropriately for your visit.
Here you were.
I try to push you out.
But you wouldn't budge.
I try to ignore you.
But you seem to take up so much space.
I asked you to leave.
I begged you to leave.
Finally,
I screamed,
Get out!
Do not want you here.
You are not welcome here.
And then I looked at you.
I saw sadness.
Deep sadness.
No one ever wants me,
" Death whispered.
They only want my partner.
Life.
Life is a beautiful one.
Vibrant,
Radiant,
Celebrated,
And revered.
Welcomed with lights,
Candles,
Bright colors,
Songs,
And dance.
But me?
I'm rarely invited.
People run from me.
They hide from me.
They fear me.
Something moved inside of me.
I extended a chair.
And invited death.
I'm sorry,
I said.
I'm sorry this has been your experience.
I guess.
I guess I was raised to be afraid of you.
Your darkness,
Your happiness.
Your mysterious ways.
I suppose we often fear.
That which we do not know.
I looked at death.
And death.
What do you want me to know?
Death took a deep breath.
I want you to know I too.
And beautiful.
I too have value.
I bring peace to weary souls.
I breathe life into memories that might otherwise be forgotten.
I create space for you to feel the full range of human emotions.
And they accompany souls.
Back to source.
You see?
Life and death.
We are partners.
We've always belonged together.
I too play an important role.
And I just wish you would take the time to truly know me.
Instead of spending your life fearing me.
I sat quietly for a moment.
Then I smile.
I said.
I hear you.
Let me make us a cup of tea.
And so we sat.
We talk.
I listen.
Really listen.
We shared stories.
We sat with memories.
We explored all the things I had misunderstood about death.
And all the ways I had allowed fear to shape my relationship with it.
Eventually.
Our cups were empty.
And it was time for death to leave.
I stood up and walked with death to the door.
As death stepped outside.
It turned back toward me.
Before I go.
Death said softly.
May I ask you something?
Of course,
I replied.
That looked at me with kindness.
If you truly remembered.
At Just Like Life.
I too walk beside you every day.
How differently?
Would you choose to live?
I stood there.
Quietly.
I had no answer.
And perhaps That is the question.
We're all invited to ponder.
Not with fear.
But with intention.
Thank you,
Beautiful souls.
