[Randolph]

There are many different philosophies on death ranging from what it is, a finality vs a transition, does it and how it affects how you live your life and everything in between. Juxtapose to death itself is should death ever be welcomed, or a relief, not something to mourn, not celebrate, but to consider it the best option at the time. And with that, should the plug be pulled?

Years ago my brother and sister and I joined my grandfather and mom at my grandmother's bedside for her life support to be removed. It was the right thing to do then. It was also perhaps the most horrible thing I had witnessed up until that time, and to today. I will never forget it and any time I remember, I have to quickly go to the memory of her and I working together on a 3rd grade homework assignment on homonyms at the kitchen table late at night. Both are crystal clear in my head as though they happened yesterday.

My brother passed away a week ago. He was a good guy but had a lot of demons in life as an alcoholic and always seemed to fall in with the wrong people who would take advantage of his kindness, generosity and good demeanor. I never understood that; he never listened to counsel about his "friends." He was admitted to the hospital 3 weeks ago and immediately put on life support diagnosed with failing liver and both kidneys. I prayed for him knowing the end was near. It was peaceful.

As I reflect on our life together, he as a little boy who without a doubt had real ADHD long before it was a thing that became a fad, that my dad tried to beat out of him, in many ways casting the die for the rest of his life to his life, the one I knew as an adult which could be a roller coaster at times. But always trying with a good heart. And always being sucked back in with the wrong people.

After some time contemplating this, I honestly believe he is in a much better place and while I will miss him, I am genuinely happy for him to get some relief, to rest and per my own philosophy, be reborn as something, anything, new and pure and able to take on a new life, hopefully armed at least a little better than what he had in this life.


I don't welcome death but believe it is a new adventure for the singular reason being the concepts of love and a soul are unique to being human. And like the conservation of mass and energy in physics, the soul must also be. In that way, I am not ready for death and plan on a long life. But I am very curious about what's next.

What is your philosophy on death?