Death.

We fear it. We occasionally think about it. But we pretend that it won’t affect us.

Only, along with taxes (as my dad likes to remind me), it is one of the few inevitable things in life.
Suddenly we are having to face the reality that many of the population will, and are, dying. What is worse is that families are separated across the globe and unable to reach those that they love. Unable to say their goodbyes and unable to provide the death that their family member deserves or wanted.

It’s a morbid topic, and one that I am penalised for ever bringing up (and in turn I penalise my sister in law for bringing up.) Yet it is important to consider.

I dream of living to see my children grow up to be older adults and to meet their own children. I’m so curious to who they will grow up to be like. But there are no guarantees that any of us will be lucky enough to see that day come. Tomorrow is never promised.

If there is one thing to take away from the corona virus madness, it’s that people are suddenly appreciating the fragility of life.
Sadly, I witnessed this years ago when I started to work in the hospitals. Since then, despite being an ongoing internal worrier, I care less for belongings or worrying about who has what compared to me. I continue to reinforce that happiness is all any of us could wish for. And happiness comes from people. People that we should be cherishing. Conflict is a waste a time and disagreements easily worked out through a conversation.
It’s ok to be mad. But don’t drag things out unnecessarily. Sort it out and move on. Today is important and it isn’t coming again tomorrow. We only get today once…and that’s today.

It is easy to let the fear of death consume us. The fear of how we would live without certain people and the fear of life moving on without us. This isn’t something that I’ve entirely mastered, so it would be hypocritical to provide a solid mantra for how to handle it. But what I can say is that we can not change our fortunes. So we just have to try and extract the fun from every situation that we can. Enjoy the now.

So during our lock downs, rather than spending every day moaning and groaning…let’s make the most of it.

Enjoy being more casual. Enjoy the time with those that you live with. Enjoy watching more television than you would normally allow yourself. Enjoy making silly videos that are keeping us all so entertained. Enjoy learning a new skill, or having the time to study. Enjoy working out from home or out in the elements of your garden. Enjoy the slower pace of life. Enjoy not having to do your hair and make up and giving your skin a break. Enjoy cooking. Enjoy laughing. Just enjoy as much of it as you can. Just enjoy.

No phase of life is forever and we have to take the good with the bad. Think about death, but don’t dwell on it. Appreciate life and appreciate what we have today, not what we want for tomorrow.

As said in kung fu panda, ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift.

Stay home. Stay safe.
Video-probably seen by everyone by now. But my favourite to make light of the situation. And horribly accurate for most men I imagine!
#life #death World Health Organization (WHO) #health #wellness #covid19 #happiness #mediclife #living #content #people #mydubai #isolation #socialdistancing