The profound, sometimes shocking experience of someone else’s death or dying can be life-changing, and feel absolutely devastating.
Notice, however, that these profound experiences are someone else’s death. Always.
Our own….we don’t know so much about. And we won’t. Not until we’re going through it. Then we’ll know.
In my most recent Peace Talk podcast Episode 112, I share a poem by the late Seamus Healey.
Poetry about death may seem odd, and difficult, and uninviting….
….or like something we’d never want to be poetic about.
And yet, giving an artistic brilliance to our deepest loss of people we care about—death—brings a blaze of light to it.
Who would I be without the story of death?
Hard to fathom almost. Hard for the mind to “get” this one. And yet, possible to imagine and wonder about.
One thing I’ve noticed, as I wonder about death and who I am without my stressful stories about it, is I would realize death happens, and so far I’ve lived on, even when others I love so much have died.
And I might cry true, deep, life-changing tears instead of holding my grief and fear in. I might live more fully, more intensely, more with the awareness this life is very temporary, this time here on planet earth in this body, very short. It’s just the way of it. It somehow must be OK, because it’s reality.
Without my stressful story about death, I might feel grateful I’m alive today, so very grateful, and prepare for the future moment, called death, with more clarity, less fear, more acceptance, less anger, more joy, less resistance.
I might even get to work and roll up my sleeves since I’ve got today, just today, to inquire and to act, to share, to feel whatever “here” feels like.
Because I am here. For now.
They were here, and for awhile our lives intersected (thank you dad, grandparents, great grandparents, friends, neighbors). I am connected to all my past relations, for generations back. I am connected the minute I’m thinking of them, and honoring them.
Without my stressful stories about death, I stop avoiding the memory of these others I once lived with.
I notice they are still alive in my heart, in the DNA, in spirit.
Enjoy Peace Talk Episode 112, then the next one will be an interview. It’ll be a surprise!
Much love,
Grace
P.S. If you’re in Seattle area (or can get yourself here)….I am offering a special three hour workshop at East West Books “Loving What Is: Ending Suffering Over Body, Eating, Pain, Sickness, Death”. Everyone will get to do The Work of Byron Katie from start to finish, focusing on this often very stressful area of how the body is affected physically….including weight, shape, pain, or even aging and death. You’ll get to pick what’s stressful for you, personally, and inquire thoroughly to see what’s really true. An amazing 3 hour opportunity for only $25. Register HERE soon, this is limited to 15 people. Saturday, June 11th.