When people think or talk about death, it’s usually tinged with a negative view and hardly ever seems to be positive.
And I think that’s because everyone is looking at it from a loss of life sort of standpoint.
So, I get the apprehension when someone talks about death or loss and how they handle that grief.
But, I’ve learned over the years that a loss isn’t just fixated on a person or a pet.
You’re allowed to grieve past experiences, memories, and events along with former habits you may have had.
While I’m trying not to get too philosophical here, I have been experiencing a lot of nostalgia as of late thanks to my 20-year class reunion and an influx of personal realizations.
Honestly, I voluntarily avoided the chance to reminisce about high school days with a handful of my 2006 classmates easily.
Two weeks later, however, I’m still being asked why I chose opting out of the class reunion rather than attending it.
Personally, the fond memories I have from back then are more private in nature and don’t really include many of the event attendees.
There was also a pretty wide divide between us from several factors – like popularity, family standings in the community, and personalities.
For me, high school wasn’t full of fun around every corner and if it had not been for my core friend group, I might have had even less positive moments.
Even then, I’ve lost friends over the years either by their own choices or mine.
There have also been several actual physical deaths that have dampened things a little bit, too.
Still, age and experience can weaken bonds between friends and family, that’s a given.
But, when you outgrow some people that want to maintain those negative and clique-ish mindsets, it’s almost harder to reconcile the past with the present.
However, if we don’t continue growing and becoming a better version of ourselves – then what’s the point of living?
I mean, I’ve also been guilty of getting stuck in a rut and dragged down by grief, depression and loss.
The downside is that it’s all part of being human and if you want to protect the peace you have, then, you make any necessary healthy adjustments.
I’ve got a few classmates connected via social media and they’re very transparent about their lives – including talking about everything from therapy sessions and plans for homeschooling their children to asking for advice or sharing concerns about national news stories.
And more often than not, I applaud them for having the courage to share so much and try to inspire or help others in their own lives.
I mean, the closest I get to broadcasting snippets of my life is this opinion column every week.
Even then, it’s only the carefully curated version that I hope provides a unique way of looking at life and maybe providing a bit of entertainment.
Just keep in mind that every once in a while, we all have our own existential crisis – the key point is trying your best despite struggling and not being afraid to ask for help.
Plus, you have to remember that sometimes, we’re a lot like animals that outgrow their old selves and shed those husks to become something bigger and better – whether that be a physical, emotional, or mental change.
