Even on the death bed, some cling to life.
Why?
Fear of the unknown?
Responsibility for things left undone?
Fear of giving up worldly possessions?
There is so much more to see, touch, feel, taste, hear – indulge?
Perhaps it is easier to give up that which is no more —
Is the fading of one’s faculties Nature’s way of preparing us for the inevitable?
What are your thoughts on this?
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Tomorrow – Contributors’ Gallery
Lighthouse – 55 word Flash Fiction
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The fear of embracing something new and giving up the world (our home) where we have spent years. It is like going to a new school, except that it is much more worse..
Very true, Padmini – I like this approach. Reluctance to leave one’s comfort zone and fearing the worst in the new place. The fear of the unknown is an enormous hurdle for most of us.
Peace, Eric
A sad piece, but very true. I hope death comes quickly and mercifully for me when the time comes. But not too soon, I have too many things I want to do.
I hope you have a much more upbeat week, Eric. Happy Monday!
Yes, Susan, you’re right. I didn’t consider that it was a Monday and too early in the week to launch a somewhat sad/depressing post. Hope I had not unduly spoiled your week. I promise something light on Wednesday.
All good cheer to you too,
Eric 🙂
Very well expressed,Eric. I believe that as human beings,we find it very difficult to let go- we hang on to our memories,we hang on to old clothes,broken furniture et al- basically all that we possessed at one point in time in our lives.We take our life for granted- we forget that one day we will diminish- completely wiped off from this Earth.Perhaps it is this indefatigable spirit to cling,hold on does not allow us to give up so easily ;this feeling becomes more and more profound when we know that we only have a few moments to live- we want to accomplish everything possible in those few moments and I think that it is completely rightful on Nature’s part when we start losing our senses one by one due to old age because we then begin to realise that one day will come when we will have to completely give up what we had been holding on to all our lives.
Excellent post-by all means !
You summarised the gist very well – the clinging to comfort zones, fear of the unknown and the belief that the inevitable is ‘far away’. Thank you, Swati.
Peace and blessings,
Eric
Having watched loved ones leave, some hard and some easy I think it is fear of what comes next and fear of leaving love behind. Does that make sense?
It makes absolute sense, my dear Val, and spoken from life experience too.
I hope my post has not been too depressive for a Monday.
All good cheer ahead,
Eric
an incredibly touching and thought provoking piece, Eric. Have a wonderful day, my friend.
That’s a lovely comment, Millie. Ever so lovely to have you visit and leave your thoughts.
Have a great week ahead, friend 🙂
Eric
Eric, you are one talented artist.
In the 7th age we should by all accounts be more than aware of the moment, known deep within, when we can let go. I believe that this is so and that we all know when that moment is however hard we try to hang on to what? Love, Life or Belongings?
‘Living and dying’ in many cultures teaches us how to approach that moment, go through the moment, live afterwards, ready to return at the right moment. Love David.
Yes, I can relate to this, David, and thank you for sharing. Similar to what some believe:
That beyond the door lies a wondrous world – so unimaginably beautiful that if revealed, many might jump ship before it is time to put to shore. So, as we reach calm waters, the captain makes his annoucements – to clear the cabins, pack the bags, say our good byes – for a smooth disembarkation.
New lands, new adventures beckon.
Peace, Eric
Lovely piece, Eric. Have a nice day.
Hello Josey,
Thank you for stopping by with this encouragement – have a nice day too.
Eric 🙂
I think that I will reflect upon this today!
Hello and thank you, Bastet.
Perhaps you can share your thoughts later.
Peace, Eric
😉 hope so…thanks.
When a younger me thought of death, I would worry about my children and felt it was a terrible thing not being able to see them grow up….as I’ve grown older, I no longer feel this dread….but I feel a certain saddness not to see their children grow up…recently, my dad passed away…he was always very vital and loved life…but in the end, he left us serenely, except for one thought, well two: that my mother had become too dependant on him and that we might not celebrate christmas as we always had. Mom, has become very independant…and as he wished we had the annual family gathering for pzza on christmas eve. I for myself, hope to go quickly, and before my children…I fear degeneration in life more than dieing…maybe the passing rather than the arrival…the long drawn out wait. I’ve often made the provebial freudian slip: birth in place of death…in a way, we have already died once, the day we left the womb to be born in this life…thanks for your lovely poem, good night! Georgia.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, Georgia – thank you very much indeed.
I believe many readers can share in what you say – I certainly can. Slow degeneration is dreadful and many would prefer a quick snuff – when the time comes, I know I would.
All good wishes,
Eric
Your words ring true. I’ve always looked at death as the end of a stage, the fear of the unknown makes me try to do the good I can here.
Now, you’re said quite a bit here, Uzo, my friend – “death…the end of a stage”
I love this sentiment.
Peace Bro,
Eric
I disagree. i think most all of us strive to live, to stay alive, even for another day. Today I saw a stunted tree that had been pruned all the way back. Not a leaf on it. Except for red blossums springing forth. Why? The tree was on its last legs, OK trunks. But its response to attempt to reproduce, to give forth more life had been genetically programmed in advance in accordance with Mr. Darwin’s imperitives. The instinct to survive survives. It’s true that Nature sometimes weakens us in old age. For myself I plan to go down swinging.
Thank you for your take, Bumba.
It is interesting what you say – that most, having lost all their faculties, lying on his/her dead bed, would strive to live, to stay alive, even if only for another day. Such is the hold of life – and genetic programming.
But I’m with you – let’s go down swinging 🙂
Perhaps it is not a fear of the unknown…but the knowledge of the void…thought provoking post.
“knowledge of the void” – in itself a thought provoking phrase, and sorry to all those who flaunt the (wrong) key.
For me, I would hang on for fear of not being with my loved ones. The same feelings go for the loved ones letting go..however, if I were so ill that a good quality of life was not possible, I think I would want to “move on” and make things easier for my family, as well…this post opens up so many different thoughts, Eric…:)
Hello, Lauren,
Truly spoken as one who loves and cares – and I share your sentiments here. I too want to live as long as I can for my family but leave quickly, if ever there is a risk of becoming a burden.
But Nature – and some call it fate – has her own agenda.
Peace, Eric
Yes, Nature does have her own agenda, so we take one day at a time and stay grateful! (even for Mondays, haha)
Have a great day, my friend! xx
we each will experience death in our own way…I think..
i can not recall ever being afraid to die…
when i did and came it had confirmed my beliefs…
what a wonderful thought provoking poem….
Thank you …
Take Care…
)0(
maryrose
Thank you, Maryrose, for your visit and comment.
“we each will experience death in our own way” – so much truth in this, I reckon.
All good wishes,
Eric
Incredible such true words
Hello Barb,
Thank you – one can travel better and more readily, when light.
maybe it’s true- that we die the way we live- makes experiencing the here & now fully all that much more relevant & mysterious.
“we die the way we live”
An interesting thought. Certainly, living fully is the way to live – many would share your sentiments.
I rather question those whose bodies fail instead of their memories and cognizance, and how much more difficult that would be for me, knowingly losing my independence instead of slipping out of awareness.
But who’s to define better or worse, blessing or tragedy, except for themselves?
Life is a strange place.
That is a terrible thought – to be bed ridden but retaining an agile and lucid mind. Arrrgh!
You got us all thinking – your poem reminds me of Shakespeare’s seventh age in his ‘Seven Ages of Man’:
“Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”
As I approach this seventh age I think that I’d prefer to forgo the preparation and just go fast. I suggest that the “sans” part is so exhausting that the sufferer wants to escape; a morbid thought!
Cheerio,
Jane
Thank you, Jane, for sharing your thoughts.
I prefer to go with a snap of the finger too. The last leg should not be as a burden for anyone – especially our loved ones.
Peace, Eric
Fading one’s capabilities makes it easier I guess. There is no anticipation or expectation that stalls one from accepting death.
Yes, Aparna,
Removing or dulling all our faculties – is this Nature’s way of preparing us/cajoling us to “let go”?
You are right, I suppose, it makes it easier.
Peace, Eric
I believe we were created to live for ever and our bodies know it and are reluctant to shut down for a while.
I’m sorry, Ian, but I don’t quite follow – “we were created to live for ever” – I suppose you meant this in the spiritual sense?
Yes.
Eric, I think is how God created Adam and Eve were meant to live spiritually and physically forever. But Adam & Eve let sin reign causing spiritual and physical death.
Ian, correct me if I’m wrong.
I think the cells fight for life with every molecule even when the soul is ready to depart.
That’s a microscopic take – and probably true too, wired as we are.