Have you ever considered what legacy you'll leave behind once you shuffle off this mortal coil? It was something I first thought about when my sister vividly explained to me what death was in a way I could understand when I was a little boy.
She said: "dying is when you go to sleep, and never wake up." That really left an imprint in my young mind and has guided my interactions with others throughout my life.
You see, I've been luckier than most people I know in that the only close member of the family that I've lost has been my grandmother. Everyone else is still around, so I haven't had to go through the repeated trials of losing any other of my loved ones. But the words of my sister echo in my mind, which has caused me to consider how my actions (or lack thereof), will affect other people.
I come from a religious family, even though my religion forbids the rituals associated with some other beliefs. Having relatives who work in the medical profession has left me with accounts of patients who have been clinically dead, but came back with wondrous reports of the afterlife, and word for word quotes of overseeing conversations in other parts of the hospital when their bodies lying flat on a hospital bed.
So I have absolutely no doubt that there is an existence after this one, and that this life is just the beginning of something wonderful (for some people). Every action we take creates ripples in a pond that intersect with the ripples created by others. Good actions and positive vibes reverberate amongst those around us, and like a butterfly effect, can cause a happy outcome in someone six degrees of separation away. No Kevin Bacon necessary.
That's why I think we need to be considerate in our dealings with others, because those vibes (good and bad), will ricochet throughout the ether and boomerang right back at us when we least expect it.
The prospect that we live and die then that's it, makes absolutely no sense to me. It almost seems like a waste of this vast, seemingly endless universe. I believe what awaits those of us with good hearts, is something wonderful.
The ability to be reunited with old friends and loved ones, even your favorite pets! I can't wait to see my dog Spunky again, he was such a good boy and loved me unconditionally!
Therefore, if you've lost someone you truly cared about, don't fret, you'll see them again. The goal is to use your time here wisely, so that you can face them with confidence knowing you treated others with decency and respect, so that you may enter the afterlife of pure joy.
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