Today is the 25th anniversary of "On Golden Pond." There is a semi famous scene in the movie (and subsequent play) that relates to the elder lead in the story telling his wife how he had become totally disoriented while out on a forest path he'd been on thousands of times. In the story it scares the bejesus out of him.
Preparing for death is a life long process. I think that too often people get completely caught up in their own fitness and well being. Not that this is advocating for slothful couch tuberedness, but most of American society seems to be on the polar ends of the scale as far as physical health is concerned. Either, we eat twice our weight in fast foods and deep fried popers, or we hit the gym everyday and are filled with protein shakes of every size and flavor.
Being healthy is first of all a way of life, not a hobby. It's something that touches every facet of life and is in place as a way to create a life that is ultimately more enjoyable. Type II diabetes and knee problems aren't fun.
That being said though, there are those who "hobby for health" who become so wrapped up in their own strength they become shocked or deeply depressed when they actually start to decay.
That's what I meant by viewing death as a lifelong process. Be in touch with your own mortality. Again to repeat a favorite line from the Fight Club movie, "Even the Mona Lisa's fallin' apart." Everything is decaying. Everything is dying.
Conversely it is extremely healthy to be able to morn the lose of someone for our own sake, for the emotion of missing them. But also touched with joy at the idea that the world after this one dictates that we will see them again. And dwell without death. Without decay, without...
No comments:
Post a Comment