To whoever sees this blog, I know you are as confused as I am, in my life, on a daily basis. “This blog should be about ways you almost died, then why is this post titled death”, you may ask. Well, you thought wrong. I felt like writing about death, for a change. Recently, a relative of mine passed away. Don’t bother with your pity condolences. So, I am in a completely new situation, as I always tend to avoid funerals. But I couldn’t avoid this one, I had people important to me that I had to console. Being bad with my emotions, this was a completely new scenario for me, at first I was unsure how to feel. Should I be sad ? Am I supposed to feel much more gutted in this situation ? Is it bad if I smile in front of the others gathered here but I pushed through.
Day 2, the day of the cremation. People were saying their final goodbyes, and doing their final rituals. You may call me a coward but I couldn’t bring myself to be a part of that. I just stood there and watched from afar, uncertain as to how I should feel. I saw people crying, some genuine, some fake, some even competing. The men in the family didn’t have a chance to show their sadness as usual, they were busy with organizing the whole ceremony part. So, here I was watching everything. The people there, emotions, ceremony and the person lying there stone cold on a metal table. The person who brought about all this, the cause. As I stood there, feeling pangs of sadness, my mind kept thinking of one thing and one thing only. It kept repeating the same words, over and over again, as if to console myself. The words in my mind were, “What is death, if not for the celebration of one’s life”. The words kept on coming to me over and over, I kept on repeating the same thing like a mad man. Then the ceremony ended and the crowd dispersed.
Being a part of the family, naturally, I was busy too the whole day. I couldn’t think of these words that gave me solace. So after getting everything over with and in the comfort of my bed, What is death ? If not for the celebration of ones life. So naturally I was curious, where did these words come from, so as any sane person would do, googled it. Surprisingly, I found no answers. All I could find were some Sadhguru saying and what not. Not these words. hehe. A new philosopher is born, me. lol. Why would these words appear to me at that time ? Moving on.
Several days passed, due to a peculiar situation, we were forced to stay at home for a week. I being a constanly bored person, sought out to end my boredom. I ended up watching an anime titled ‘Tomorrow’s Joe‘. Started off as a rags to riches story as usual. An old man finds a troubled delinquent teen, who is only at one thing, fighting. The old man recognizes his talent. “Coincidently” the old man also turns out to be an ex boxing coach. The old man tries hard to convince Joe to take up boxing but Joe being the delinquent he is flat out refuses and tricks the old man for his own good. Honestly, as the viewer I am honestly pissed at Joe at the beginning for acting like a teen. As we grow older, we do tend to forget how we were once. So anyway Joe lands himself in circumstances and in the end boxing becomes his life (Watch the anime. MUST WATCH). Just as Joe is becomes the top contender for the best boxer in the world, tragedy strikes. Punch – Drunk syndrome. A disease that renders boxers useless (Veg). Yohko (A woman, root cause of everythng that happens to Joe, He hates her) reveals that she loves him and to not proceed with the upcoming match as she knows about the illness, which Joe is very much trying to hide from everyone else. Joe replies “The world’s most strongest man is waiting for me in that ring” and doesn’t heed her warning. The fight turns out to be the most brutal one for the world champion. Ultimately, Joe loses the match by points and after giving his match gloves to Yohko, passes away in his corner. Peacefully, like a man that had attained everything that he wished for. Before his death, Joe thinks “I have burnt, until all that is left is white-ash”
So, What is death? If not for the celebration of ones life. Death brought all these people together. If people still remember you and cherish you even after your death, what more do you need ? That can be considered as the greatest celebration. So go out with a bang and keep some people close, who will always cherish you.
P.S. Sorry for the long post and here’s a picture of Joe being content with his life.
Dumb ways to die. 