Kennedi Santomenna - HUM 1020 - CRN 14242

Chapter 14: Life Affirmation

"Because the omnipresence of death, even at its most tragic, can enhance our appreciation of being alive (14.2)."

Death is the hardest thing to get over in life, in my opinion. What do you mean once it's over, it's over? I think despite all of my hardships, the absolute hardest thing I am still trying to get over is grief. There will be times I get dreams of my sister's death, and I will wake up and bawl my eyes out. Although death is such a challenging topic, it does make you appreciate life. My friend who passed was only 19, and it has me realized that life is so beyond short and how unfair it is to die. I go to college for her and live my life to the fullest for her. She is the reason I strive to be better because of how unfair her odds were.

"For some people, the next best thing to immortality is the thought of their own funerals (14.1)."

In my humble opinion, I do not like the thought of immortality. Obviously, immortality may never happen, but logically, I think it will bring more damage. The population increases daily, and everyday supplies are limited. The only reason why it is sort of stable is because of the deaths of humanity. It is harsh to say, but it is sadly the truth. I am pretty sure overpopulation exists now with immortality it would be a total war. Death is a natural occurrence, and it should not be ignored. Not to mention, I think with time, everyone would soon wish they were gone in the long run if they stayed alive, or in other words, immortal.

"It seems impossible that there should ever come a time when that self is nonexistent (14.1)."

There was one time I had a very vivid dream where I died. I was on a skateboard playing with one of my friends, and we got shot in a drive-by. In my dream, my body fell, my ears rang, my heart pounded, and I remember telling myself how much I loved my sisters. That dream was the scariest dream I had ever had. I woke up feeling dissociated, and I stared at my ceiling with tears in my eyes. It was the fact that I distinctly remember dying in my dream and repeating to myself how much I would miss my sisters. It was a really crazy dream, but it had me realize how much it is going to hurt my sisters and me to be gone.

References

Richard Paul Janaro & Thelma C. Altshuler, 2017, The Art of Being Human, 11th Edition