fear is an affliction that humanity can never overcome, it is the nature of the beast
we do not understand, therefore we fear that which we do not understand
we all come to the same inevitable end, the end is something we do not understand
we fear the end, we die and end existence as we understand it
People put too much emphasis on death and dying. We all die, we all believe death is one thing or another: an end, a beginning, a turn in the road, a path to a new story, an experience to add to ourselves, a return to where we came from, and on and on and on...
Death is something unique for each and every person. As is life. Good, bad, happy, sad, life is just different. Age is just different. People are just different.
It's my turn. I cannot remember a point in my life where I had a fear of death. I cannot imagine fearing death at any point in my life. To me, death is like the wink you get while sharing a fine joke.
I view my imminent death as just one more experience of life. There's a 50/50 chance something cool will happen afterwards. I hope and believe that something happens after death, and I'm looking forward to finding out what it will be. Who knows, I could end up reincarnated as a ballet dancer, or someone's shoe, I could end up in a heaven and have endless supplies of chocolate, I could become a part of a solar system ad understand universal existence, I could be reborn as me in another time, place, reality... how exciting to consider all the things that could be, and even more exciting that there are possibilities beyond anything I can ever imagine.
Many people are concerned about getting old. Older means more responsibilities, more stipulations and expectations on behavior, and worst of all getting closer to the end. What a silly thing to focus on. Age is nothing more than the fact that I got to experience a few more moments of life here on this silly little planet I call home. Experience is precious to me and thus so is age.
You are only as old as you think you are.
You are only as old as you feel.
I have a Peter Pan complex. Aside from the alluring fun of wearing the tights (*ooohh la la*), I decided many years ago that I would never grow up. That doesn't mean I don't take my responsibilities seriously, or that I will look young forever, or that I will attempt to look young forever, or that I can't make grown-up decisions...
It means that like a child I will find joy and delight in the world as often as I can and appreciate the fact that I have the chance to experience it. And such am I, like a bottle of wine, trying to become fine as the years carry me along until the bottle is empty and all that is left is the memory of a wonderful flavor and an empty bottle to be recycled and returned to where I came from.
