This is a topic that I've been thinking about writing for awhile. I wasn't waiting for the near death experience or anything I was just waiting for the creative juices to really flow on this one because trust me, I know this is a touchy subject. However, I think the sooner you come to terms with it, the more comfortable you become with the subject. In one of my earlier blogs, I touched on this a bit with the idea of forever. Since then, I guess you could say I've had a few things "inspire" me to take the subject a bit further.
It's not so much a scare for me as it is a reality. For myself, I believe that my ultimate fate in this life on this universe has already been set up for me. So to that, I ask you this. Have you ever thought about what happens next? Awhile back, I watched One Week starring Joshua Jackson, and I have to tell you, it really was a great movie. I was a bit worried because of the indie feel to it and I wasn't sure how to feel about Josh Jackson when I looked at the movie jacket. Maybe it was the constant barrage of Canadian content that heightened this movie for me, but I found myself deeply connected to the character of this story. The plot surrounds itself with the idea of death and what you would do if you got shocking news that you had a terminal illness. Jackson's character sets out on an adventure, and does not pay any attention to his boundaries of his fiance, his family or his fate in general. It's a story about finding one's self, something that I sometimes find a struggle too. But I reassure myself that it's human nature to think like that. The idea of death doesn't really hit Jackson until the end of the movie, when he has to make the ultimate decision of how he tends to battle the illness. I won't put a spoiler alert in here because I won't ruin the movie for you if you haven't seen it, but I will say it's worth a watch.
The movie deals with a question of why things happen the way they do and why young people are put in the position they are when the natural order and progression of life doesn't fall into place for them specifically. It also asks the viewer, "What would you do if you knew you were going to die? What story would you tell?" It really got me thinking about a lot of things, like why people are so uptight all the time. Wake up and realize death doesn't wait for you, hence the title of the movie "One Week." One week to live. What would you do? That was my interpretation anyway.
I heard a story once from my grade 12 English teacher, Mr. Candeloro, who one day told the class a story about death and fate which involved a king and his servant. The king had sent his servant to the fruit market to get the best fruit in the land. While the servant was at the market, he saw what appeared to be Death approaching him (the classic grim reaper). Frightened by this, the servant hurried home and told the king of this news. He feared that Death had finally caught up to him, and he must flee England and leave for uncharted territory, into the wilderness of Africa. Angered by this, the king marched down to the market to see if he too could spot "Death." It was as if Death was waiting for him when he got to the market. The king approached Death and said, "Death, why is it that you scared my servant today? Is this some sort of cruel joke? You have him so freighted that he has left my kingdom and fled to the jungles of Africa." Startled by this, Death replied, "Your Highness, I was not trying to frighten your servant. I was only startled by seeing him today, as I was not supposed to see him for another two weeks. You see, he is going to die in the African Jungles. That is where I was supposed to catch up with him." Amazing right? I thought to myself, "Wow, there really is no escape to your fate." Even if you knew, or thought you knew like the servant, there is nothing you can do anyway. At that moment, I think I finally realized that nothing lasts forever.
As humans, we have all experienced some sort of death, even on a daily basis. Killing a fly, squashing a spider, accidentally (or purposely) hitting something with your car, watching a television show or movie where someone dies...it's all around us. And then the sensitive stuff, losing someone you love or losing someone or something who had an impact on your life. You're never ready for it. Ever. You could plan your whole life, heck even know the day, and you still wouldn't be ready for it. I lost my best friend to cancer over three years ago, which was one of the hardest run ins with death I have ever had to deal with. Through all the tragedy and heartbreak and the only now memories I am left with of her smiling face, it taught me one thing. To live.
Who knows what waits for us on the other side. Whatever it is you believe in, just remember what you stand for, and who you want to be remembered as. If you ask me, there is no second chance. Maybe you're an animal in your next life. Maybe you are reborn into a new soul. Maybe you earn your wings, and fly to places in the world you never had a chance to see. Maybe you finally take that trip to Hawaii, California or China. Maybe you become the guardian angel for your best friend. Maybe you whisper to people at night while they are dreaming, and tell them everything is going to be okay. Or maybe, you just lie six feet under, finally getting the rest you needed your whole life. But in reality, that's it. Nothing, absolutely nothing, goes with you. It's all for show. Death doesn't wait for you to finish up, so hit the start button now if you haven't reached outside your boundaries and started living. Start today.
You make choices in your life every day. If you know you're making the wrong one, please, don't make it. Every action turns into a memory, whether it be good or bad. There is no erase or undo button like there is on a computer or at the tip of a pencil. At the end of the day (pardon the pun), you either face death head on or you wait for it to come and find you. It's okay to make a jump every once and awhile.
Either way, remember, don't take it all so seriously. It's not like you are getting off this planet alive.
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