Why Do We Act as if Death is Not Going to Happen?

As if life on earth is eternal.

We’ve seen family, friends, and even strangers die.

I myself have seen it thousands of times.

We know it is coming.

There is no escaping it.

There’s even a slogan for it: Death, Taxes, and (insert here).

Death is completely, 100% unavoidable.

Our time will come. 

Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. 

Heck, maybe not for another 20, 30 years.

But, death will come for us all.

We know this.

Yet, we do nothing to prepare for it.

“Let someone else plan my funeral.”

“My kids can pay for that.”

“Just throw me in a box and bury me outside.”

Well, how about no?

We lead our lives to danger every single day.

We drive through traffic like a daredevil.

We gorge on fatty and acidic foods.

We drink. We smoke. We breathe in poisonous gases.

We spend every dollar today, to have nothing tomorrow.

If you can live a life of excess, you can plan your final goodbye.

Leaving your funeral or cemetery expenses to your kids can be seen as selfish, and lazy.

Perhaps your children will not have money when you pass away.

Maybe they will not see the value in a full, traditional funeral and burial.

Their wallets may only go so far as to cremate you and leave you behind for the shelves of Goodwill.

Yes, I have seen it.

We’re human.

Every single one of us.

We deserve to be treated as such.

Not thrown away or buried as if we are trash.

To have a final disposition that is respectful and dignified.

To think so little of one’s life and self is puzzling.

Make the call. Take the drive.

Visit your local funeral home and cemetery.

Ask questions. Get curious.

I’m not saying it’s easy. The hardest step is the first one.

We put everything on payments already, why not add one more to the list?

Or pay in full. Lock in those costs.

Make your wishes known. 

To someone. Anyone.

Once you do, though, you will have peace of mind.

Forever.

It’s the right thing to do.

We’ve done so much wrong in this world.

To others. To ourselves.

By doing nothing, we’re wronging our future, surviving generation.

Pick up the phone. Google. Get in the car.

Whatever that first step is for you.

Death is unavoidable.

Making your funeral and cemetery plans should not be, too.

Act as if death is going to happen.

Because it is.

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