What Death Teaches Us: 5 Important Things We Often Forget

One of my two beloved Grannies died yesterday and today we had a funeral. It was really hard to be there and understand clearly that she’s gone and is never coming back. I cried myself to sleep yesterday, but today was doing my best to pretend calm and strong – just to support my relatives. I know that my tears can’t change anything, another close and important person joined the majority, and once again it makes me think about the lessons of Death:

•  Imagine yourself on your deathbed – this is how you’re going to end up, sooner or later. Does this picture make you change your attitude to some little things that often spoil your day? You’ll die and transform into nothing, so while you are something, appreciate it and act wisely.
• Spend your time on what really matters to you – there are people you love, things you enjoy, Nature that created you… There are so many wonderful things to pay attention to and to bask in. So why wasting your precious time doing nothing or, even worse, complaining, hating, grumbling… You can make people smile, this Planet – bloom, your soul – sing. What have you done to achieve it today?
• Live every day as a last and never take anything for granted – What you have today, people who surround you, things you do, even your own body – it may be the last day you have these things. Show your love to everything you possess, be grateful for every little thing you get or see, try hard to make your loved ones happy. It may be your last chance to dance in the rain, to sing a song with your best friend, to kiss your Granny on the cheek – never waste a single moment.
• Don’t regret anything, but move on – What happens to us are the lessons which help us grow and learn. Whatever made you cry is your past now – understand the lesson, but don’t dwell on it. Concentrate on what you enjoy and how to make dreams come true – yours and of your loved ones. Life is going to end, keep it in mind. While you’re alive, celebrate it. Teach others to celebrate their lives too.
• Let go – People and things come and go, don’t become dependent. Sometimes our loved ones don’t have to die to leave us – it may be their choice. No matter how hard it is to say goodbye, do it when the time comes. The new stage of your life is beginning, and it’s a painful process, but it has to be. Through pain we grow and become wiser, we find out more about ourselves and about the mysteries of life. Let go, but never give up.

I’ve written it mostly for myself – not to forget what the death of my beloved Grandmother has taught me. She will always be in my heart and I know that she’ll be watching over me and celebrating my successes with me. I will devote my strength, optimism and determination to her and her endless love. I know she wanted us all to be happy, and I promise that I will. I already am, and I’m grateful to her for helping me out in this world so many times!

PS This post was written 2 years ago, but I decided to share it now in memory of my grandma.