“The planet is fine. The people are fucked.” ― George Carlin. (My sincere apologies if you might think this quote was inappropriate.)We live in this great small world, that for some of us seems too big to conquer. The humans inhabiting this world exist, but do not live. They do the stupidest things, for they do not know how to reconcile to the inevitability of death. Yet, death is as peaceful as finding something beautiful in chaos, like the love between your loud family members at the dinner table, or one raindrop dripping down your window as you navigate a traffic-congested road. But “death occurs in unexpected times.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita. I’ve faced death before, multiple times and fortunately, I got saved from it. But for others that might not be the case for I have seen death that wasn’t mine. I’ve lost two loved-ones this year and it killed me more, than it killed them, because I was the one that had to keep on living. These near-death experiences are moments we need to learn from, otherwise what’s the point? Life doesn’t consist out of days, but out of moments. Moments of anger, sadness, happiness and love. Those are the ones we remember. Those are the ones we preserve. The Greek myth “The Flood Cycle” tells us how life should be lived by explaining our mistakes, our punishment and our rebirth.
“Sometimes mortals can be more horrible than monsters.” ― Rick Riordan. Our choices are the ones that define us, so I’ve learned from watching the Harry Potter movies. Which means, making the wrong choices makes us a wrong person, right? There is this one age Zeus, the lord of Olympus created filled with a lot of wrong people making the wrong choices -mistakes. He heard rumors about it and decidedto see with his very own eyes how wrong they are, thus dressing up as a stereotypical ordinary traveler. On his so-far disappointing journey, he encountered a horrible mortal, King Lycaon. King Lycaon was inhumane and arrogant, filled with vanity, greed and bestial thoughts. He served Zeus a platter of human sacrifice, which finally burst Zeus’ bubble, using his extraordinary power to turn King Lycaon into an animal with four legs, grey hairs, red eyes, a fierce face and the same bestial thoughts. Zeus turned him into a wolf, for “Lycaon had always been a wolf.” (Rosenberg, 23) After Zeus confronted Lycaon, he was determined to wipe out all mortals, for they did not deserve the precious life and life-sustaining earth they have been given, hence the flood.
“Make every day count... Even when you think it's the worst day of your life; for you never know when it'll be your last.” ―Solange nicole. This is the key. The key to not fear death, for a person who has lived life completely, is fully prepared to die at any time. Yet, it’s not fair is it? Well, guess what? Life isn’t fair. It never will be. One day you exist, and the next you don’t.
No matter how good of a person you are, you’ll die. Even the remembered won’t be remembered. There’s a time before humans and there will be a time after. If no one exists, no one will remember, therefore everything will fade into oblivion. Everything will be washed away, forgotten. That was Zeus’ punishment for us. He washed away all good and evil that was inhabiting this earth, killing every living creature. But, so far, good has always overpowered evil, which would make it improbable for that to suddenly stop. And it didn’t. One couple survived. One “good” couple. And even in a time of complete despair and loss, they stayed innocent, kind, god-fearing people with hearts filled with love for one another. Even in a time of complete despair and loss, they made every day count.
“Death and Rebirth is one of the most crucial parts of life, without one the other simply cannot exist!” ― Isabella Poretsis If this couple, Pyrrha and Deucalion weren’t so pure of heart, Zeus and the other gods never would have shown mercy. If; A word that could go either way. Mystery lies in its definition. It may be good it may be bad, but luckily in this case, it’s good. Because of this “if”, humankind emerged from the very nature that sustained them. Humans were gradually shaped out of rocks and clay. Females out of Pyrrha and males out of Deucalion. “They created a race of humans who possessed the strength and endurance of the material from which they had been formed.” (Rosenberg, 25) New life came from death, and that’s how it’s going to be, until the end of eternity.
Death is inevitable, so is oblivion. But is that a reason for not living, not doing what you love, always trying to run away from it? I think the fact that it’s inevitable is more of a reason to live like you’ll never die. Death has a heart, but he’s also cunning, and won’t hesitate to take you even when you haven’t lived life to the fullest. “Life is a big fat gigantic stinking mess, but that's the beauty of it, too.” ― Gayle Forman. We possess the power to shape our own lives, to do whatever we want, whenever we want, so why hesitate? “Fretting over how life ends, or anything else for that matter, is a complete waste of time.” ― Samantha SottoYou should do what you love, for the next day might not be promised to you. A flood might occur the next day, like it has before, washing you away into oblivion. Death is not something to fear if you had the adventures you so deserved. Life and death should balance each other out. A good life is a peaceful death. Just think about this: Death is just another great adventure that everyone should be prepared to go on. We were (re)born for a reason. To live. “After all, how often do we get a second chance?” ― Jay Asher