Once an individual is born, they will inevitably die. It’s a common fate that no man nor woman can defeat. While serving one’s sentence, (I compare it to prison) a person decides on how he/she will live their lives. Of course, people are there along the way, judging and assigning titles as if their death day won’t arrive as well.
Birthdays are treated as joyous occasions comparable to a celebration of life. In a way, celebrating life is simultaneously celebrating death. They’re a packaged deal. Once you’re at a certain age, people begin to pressure you by asking about your plans for the future. In some countries, your future is determined for you. Up until recently, I was one of those individuals who felt pressured to be successful. I had ambition, goals, and dreams. Deep down inside, they still linger. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with having those characteristics, however, they wont’ prevent one from the inevitable.
While on this journey, some seek the meaning of life. They question their purpose, if they even have one. They decide who they want to be and focus on becoming that person. They stress over becoming that person. They endure long, sleepless nights in hopes of becoming that person. Some will even complete the task of becoming who they want to be and rejoice. Then what? They will eventually die. All of that planning, stressing, and worrying, just to die.
Some people find meaning through religion. They’re set in whichever belief they’ve chosen and live accordingly. Some religions promise life after death and damn individuals who’ve gone against that religion to the depths of hell. If this is true, what will happen to the souls of those who never believed in the religion in the first place?
There are also individuals who believe that after death, one’s soul is transferred into a new human vessel. There’s an old adage that says, “After someone dies, a baby is born.” I think this is the theory that I support the most. It would explain this endless cycle of life.
Now, since the majority of people don’t know their particular death day, some believe we have control over it. Research claims, people born in the United States today can expect to live to an average age of about 79 years of age. Some studies suggest that if you eat healthy and exercise, there’s a chance that you’ll outlive someone who doesn’t. If this is the case, why do babies, who haven’t even had a chance to choose a healthy lifestyle, die so early in life? That doesn’t sound like control to me.
The point being, death is inevitable. Therefore, one should live their life as carefree as possible. I’m speaking on a positive spectrum. Individuals shouldn’t rely so heavily on the thoughts and opinions of others. Once you die, it won’t matter if you were the President of the United States, a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, or even a bum. It won’t matter if you have a college degree or decided you’d simply like to work a steady, minimum wage job.
One of the greatest things about life is the power given to an individual so that he/she can decide how they want to live their lives. Granted, people will judge and dictate. They will force their beliefs on you. They will push and pull you in various directions. In the end, none of it will matter because we’re all going to die, the rich and the poor.
Life is a beautiful thing and you have the option of making it whatever you want it to be. Unfortunately, it will come to an end and once that happens, we won’t even remember the events that occurred during our existence. On the other hand, some of us will leave a legacy behind that will continue to live on after death.