*Advisory: This article discusses topics of death.
Death is defined as the end of a life of a person or organism. Though such a statement reads simply, the meaning of the aforementioned definition is not, especially when human emotions are involved. At various times in our lives, we will all find ourselves grieving over the loss of a loved one. That loved one may have been extremely important to us, our family members and their community. When a loved one dies, we tend to think about who they were and the legacy they left behind, if any. At the same time, most of us will also be reminded that death is inevitable and, many times, unpredictable.
When the death of a person is sudden and unexpected, their loved ones can become heavily traumatized. The stages of grief for someone who has lost a loved one so abruptly can often become even more intense than usual. However, it is good to remember that along with the right coping skills most people can recover from loss on their own through the passage of time, strong social support and healthy habits. Build a support system of people who will understand you and the emotions that you are feeling. Surround yourself with love. Be advised, however, to stay away from those who disregard your feelings, even if you are grieving over the same person. Because people grieve differently, it will take some time for certain people to heal and accept their loss. For others, an eternity. Regardless of time, one should never feel or be rushed to heal from the death of someone they loved.
Death is inevitable, and we do not know when, where, or how we will all die. Until our time comes, let us take a moment to appreciate our loved ones that are still here, where possible. Make more happy memories because our chance to say "good-bye" or "I love you," will never come around again once we lose a loved one; and living a life with regret is never good for one's mental health. Death should not be feared but accepted as a transition in life. Though a painful one, the love of those who still surround us can help us build up the strength that we need to help us keep going forward one day at a time.
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