Soon after we arrive on this earth, we become aware of the most fundamental fact of our existence, that we won't be here very long. An average life span lasts less than 30,000 days. We sleep a third of that time, so the days we experience number less than 20,000. We may try, but we can't ever completely deny our mortality. Reminders keep cropping up, classmates fail to return after a summer break; we drive to work on a beautiful spring day, and a line of cars with lights on and a hearse in front suddenly appears; each day's paper carries numerous obituaries.
The unbelievable brevity of our lives conflicts with our deep seated yearning for permanence and with our lifelong fear of being separated from those we love, a fear that haunts us from infancy to old age.
To fully live, one must resolve the problem of death. When left unresolved ones spends excessive energy denying it or becoming obsessed with it. Socrates said, "The true philosopher is always pursuing death and dying. Freud ask's, "How do we resolve and come to terms with the painful riddle of death"? Most of the great writers, dealth extensively with this theme.
Children do not conceptualize or fear death as do adults. For many death is our only destiny. for many others they have a religious worldview, they believe death is not our only destiny. This belief helps one to deal with their fear of death and their wish for permanence.
As for me, I'm not there yet. I'm still searching and waiting for answers that I realize I will probably never get on this side of the grave. For me, the problem of death is unresolved and I've got to stop spending excessive energy denying it or being obsessed with with it. It's time for me to still this mind of mine and let it go. How about you?
Blueblades