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Tommy Dixon's avatar

I love how this piece turned out Jack, and how you stepped outside your comfort zone to write it in the first person.

Death is such a taboo, hard to talk about subject, but the greatest of all fears only grows larger in the shadows... good on ya for writing this one

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Miche Priest's avatar

If only we could all speak so openly and thoughtfully about death. You’ve written about it in such a way that makes it an inviting conversation.

As I get older and encounter it more through loss, I find the physical aspect less frightening. It’s almost like acceptance happens as a phase that comes with age similar to how teens pull away from their parents. I imagine when you’re older, whether it’s by encountering death around you or through aging, you’ll feel less fear.

My mom was raised Buddhist but converted to Christianity when I was little. I was raised Baptist then Pentecostal (speaking in tongues, fainting and such) in the buckle of the Bible Belt, Oklahoma. Through my education and travels I became agnostic bordering on atheist. Now, I am not religious in anyway, but I believe deeply: Our bodies are a vessel for our consciousness. Our consciousness is part of a collective whole. Our purpose is to experience being human fully. The first two aren’t necessary for me to believe, but the third can bring peace.

I feel the greatest level of peace I’ve ever felt. When I was Baptist, I feared hell. When I was Pentecostal (unfortunately never experienced speaking in tongues), I feared the war of demons over my spirit. When I was agnostic I feared being worthless. I don’t know what this new thing is, but I see it as nothing matters so anything is possible. Within possibility lies the opportunity to experience being human fully.

The beauty in this definition is “being fully human” can meant anything you want. For me it means following my curiosity, being fully present as much as one can be, and being the fullest expression of myself as a human being.

Thank you for writing and sharing such a personal essay on something we could all benefit from talking more openly about but don’t.

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