9/11 was this past week. I don’t live in that country anymore and I was quite young to understand what was happening when it did. But since then I’ve heard many different versions of what went down on that tragic day. I only took one thing from the dozens of stories I heard – innocent people died for the personal gain of someone else. I don’t care who the person behind it was. It only matters how many family members were made to suffer because of it.
I believe there are two kinds of death. The one that comes naturally and the ones that arrives when disaster strikes. But when someone dies, the world doesn’t differentiate it like that. How many times have you heard someone say, ‘Good riddance. She/he was such a horrible human being” ? Death in the human mind is always differentiated in two ways – the kind hearted person’s oh-so-soon passing; the ill hearted person’s long overdue riddance.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before – Death plays a huge part in my mind. For a fairytale believer, death is probably a more commonly occurring thought process than love because love doesn’t happen to everyone. Some people live their entire lives not knowing what it feels like to be loved unconditionally and passionately. But even to them, death is inevitable. It cannot be pushed away. It cannot be erased. This quote is simply a hint at just how much the world tries to make it go away :
“The walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of churches.”
But it is the undeniable truth. And I’m not as afraid as I should be. For it is the only thing in life that is certain. It has to come some day and I will accept it when it does.
Yet everyday, I wake up in fear of who around me is still safe from it. When the phone rings, my heart skips a beat and I have to check in on everyone to know my family is where it’s supposed to be. Here. With me.
A friend of mine passed away a few months ago. This past week he’s been on my mind constantly. I see someone with a mohawk and think “Oh look ! He’s here !” And then I remind myself, “That cannot be him. He’s dead.” He was a nice guy. Quite young too. His mother was orphaned for he was the last family she had left. I hate to imagine how many mothers were orphaned on 9/11. How many kids were orphaned. Engagements broken, weddings stopped, successful marriages turned single parents.
Then again, just how many of those people were thought of as “Good riddance” ?!
“We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love.”
– Mad. De Stael
It’s so easy to talk about it from a distance. It’s so easy to dissect the process. It’s so easy to say, “Life has to go on..” And it is definitely easy to say “Good riddance.” But the ones that lose the person they love – disastrous or natural, sickness or an accident – to them, Death is but a ghost that continues to live in them and haunt them everyday for as long as they live. It doesn’t matter if the dead was innocent, arrogant, ruthless or stupid, the ones that get to live never really get to live.
Ever wonder why Disney movies always have parents that die early in the story or are already dead? Especially the mother?
Walt Disney’s mother died in a fire accident in the house he bought for her. It’s suggested that it may be why the Disney movies don’t have a significant mother character in them.
How many days would he have spent thinking to himself “Wish it had been me” ? You and I may think of 9/11 once a year, but to those families that lost someone they loved, every single day they have lived since the life altering disaster is 9/11. How many times do you think they would have thought to themselves, “Should have been me” ?
I say this now and I will say this always. I will always rather it be me than anyone I hold dear to my heart.
There’s no moral to this post. There’s no inspiring message. Just a passing thought from me to you – Death has to come and it will. To you, to me and to every living being on this planet. It comes to the good guys and the bad. Wouldn’t it be easier if we didn’t all kill each other and just spent whatever little time we have on this beautiful planet laughing away and spreading love?
In memory of every lost loved one. ❤
(Images courtesy : Google)
Loud Thoughts Voiced Out 
Love the first quote. This post was interesting to me because I have never had anyone dear to me pass (knock on wood) and cannot imagine the pain that must cause. I have seen a few dear friends say goodbye far to early to their parents, however, and witnessed the torture in their eyes. Maybe this is far too naive; but I’ve always held the belief that a lost life should be celebrated fr what they were. Honoured through another life well lived. Anyway, just adding my thought to yours. My heart goes out to the families of those who died on that tragic day ❤
Thank you 🙂
I think a lot of cultures actually follow that and I really do believe celebrating the lost helps heal the broken heart. 🙂
Your post are very interesting. I will be reading more. Show support and check out some of mine. I like the name of your blog well the website. loudthoughtsvoicedout and they’re really voiced out.!
I will check it out asap.
Thank you so much 🙂
You’re welcome. I need a lot of feedback.! 🙂
Great job! I really enjoyed this blog.
Thank you 🙂
This is a really touching entry. 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Oh My God!! I got goosebumps reading your post !! Awesome..
Aww.. Thank you so much 🙂
I really likeed your posts!
Thank you 😀
Yes there is no inspiring story here but a fleeing thought. Though a thought may be simple on its own, it is more powerful when it helps others to think for themselves. Great post!
Thank you so much 🙂
It surprises me, for a young person, how much thought you’ve given to death. It took me a long time, and some powerful deaths, before I examined it further. But you, you seem to tackle the subject willingly. It is a mature subject…and a profound one. It’s impressive.
Thank you 😀
It’s just one of those things that’s always on the back of my head no matter what. I can’t seem to figure out or explain why. I’m presuming it’s something that comes from my fear of ghosts. I’m not sure. 🙂
Ha! Or maybe you’re ahead of your time in that awareness. I think understanding and exploring the idea of death can teach us how to live. So I’m in the process of publishing a memoir about my experience with it.
Touching post. It is fabulous, and even an average reader can see that you have written this post from the heart.
wow!
Thank you 😀
Very nice post, I really like the hospital/church quote.
Great post for reflection on 9/11 and death in general. I love that you stated that death plays a huge role in your mind, even more than love because not everyone has the privilege to experience love in their lives. But death is inevitable. Love your writing style. Looking forward to browsing through your blog and thoughts.
That’s a very interesting take on death. It intrigued me by the way you worded your title. Death is the inevitable end. Your first quote was interesting and well places to keep the reader going. I don’t normally read such dark material, but this one was well thought out and written well.
Death is part of life… it is sad but to progress in life you have to… wait for it… ‘let it go.’
🙂
My mind just erupted in snowflakes while Idina Menzel sang “Let it gooooooo” 😀
The song is EVERWERE! I read an arrival, Disney is sorry for let it go for being so catchy… and annoying!
haha. I kinda like it. I get to sing it in a really flat voice around my house and irritate everyone.
I sing it too, but I hate love it… if that makes sence
ditto!
Haha!