I did not know the end story of Robert E. Howard. This essay was personally relevant today since my husband and I are facing the possibility of his own body's end story. I am thinking positive, but of course Jim is feeling fatalistic. Hopefully my optimism will prevail and the news won't be dire.
Matt Cardin, your words so often eerily and beautifully speak to my current reflections. Started reading the Tibetan Book of Living ad Dying last week, and so the subject Has been foremost in my mind. For instance, this morning, I read: “ Yet if our deepest desire is truly to live and go on living, why do we blindly insist that is the end? Why not at least try and explore the possibility that there may be a life after? Why, if we are as pragmatic as we claim, don’t we begin to ask ourselves seriously: where does our REAL future lie? After all, no one lives longer than 100 years, and after that there are stretches and stretches the whole eternity unaccounted for…
Of course, for the suicide, It seems that the fear of grief and despair trump the fear of death. I often wonder if it is the anxiety of not knowing when life will end that causes a person, paradoxically, to take matters into their own hands. The desire to be done with that body – the body that is experiencing that terrible despair… but we are not our not merely our bodies… So what then?
Thanks for letting me know this resonated with you, Melanie. Such synchronicities are of course not to be ignored. Your speculation on suicide strikes a chord, and a rather mournful one.
Certainly an important question to ask while breathing. Whether it's possible to know the answer isn't so relevant to me. I'm not sure if true mindfulness can be achieved if the question isn't asked. Thank you!
I did not know the end story of Robert E. Howard. This essay was personally relevant today since my husband and I are facing the possibility of his own body's end story. I am thinking positive, but of course Jim is feeling fatalistic. Hopefully my optimism will prevail and the news won't be dire.
Oh, wow. My heart goes out to both of you. Sincere best wishes and positive energy all around. Whatever happens, I wish you both peace.
Thanks, Matt. We may have an answer by this Tuesday. I remain optimistic.
Then I remain optimistic with you.
He is fine. Thanks for your optimism and prayers.
🙏🏻
Matt Cardin, your words so often eerily and beautifully speak to my current reflections. Started reading the Tibetan Book of Living ad Dying last week, and so the subject Has been foremost in my mind. For instance, this morning, I read: “ Yet if our deepest desire is truly to live and go on living, why do we blindly insist that is the end? Why not at least try and explore the possibility that there may be a life after? Why, if we are as pragmatic as we claim, don’t we begin to ask ourselves seriously: where does our REAL future lie? After all, no one lives longer than 100 years, and after that there are stretches and stretches the whole eternity unaccounted for…
Of course, for the suicide, It seems that the fear of grief and despair trump the fear of death. I often wonder if it is the anxiety of not knowing when life will end that causes a person, paradoxically, to take matters into their own hands. The desire to be done with that body – the body that is experiencing that terrible despair… but we are not our not merely our bodies… So what then?
Thank you…
Thanks for letting me know this resonated with you, Melanie. Such synchronicities are of course not to be ignored. Your speculation on suicide strikes a chord, and a rather mournful one.
Certainly an important question to ask while breathing. Whether it's possible to know the answer isn't so relevant to me. I'm not sure if true mindfulness can be achieved if the question isn't asked. Thank you!
Thank you, friend.