Death is with me always.

According to Karl Rahner, death is not just an event. It is true that death is not only an
experience of loss at some point in our lives that we are forced to endure. It is a reality for all of
us. Heidegger even stresses its inevitability. The mere thought of this might invoke fear. But it
might also induce awareness. Death is with me always.

Truly, there is always the possibility that one day there will no longer be possibilities. But
I personally believe that it is not a possibility that can be likened to a positive or a negative. It
cannot be that I will either die or I will never die. There is certainty that a person will die; a 100%
possibility that there is a future of nothing. If you look at it, death will always be at the very least
one step behind.

No one is familiar with death. It cannot be fully explained by a single person in the world,
because no one truly knows it. I think what’s important is not to explain the phenomenon, but to
react to it. It’s not a what but a how. How will I be because death is with me?

According to Socrates, death and dying should be practiced. I take this as ironic because
we are supposed to live like we’re dead. It is a funny thought but looking at it, it would put things
to perspective. Our actions are always somehow dictated by what is in front of us: goals, dreams,
drive. Death can be what’s in front of us; death can somewhat be a standard. It shows what’s
important.

There always seems to be a negative connotation for death. But I think that in anything, it
is only as negative as you make it to be.

“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.”

This beautiful quote is by Benjamin Disraeli. I’d like to reword it as,

“Death may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without death.”

If we were immortal, nothing would be good enough to make us want to keep going. We would
be reduced to eternal restlessness and unfulfilled days. Death allows us to be free. Death should
always be with us.