Loss

The only inevitable and unavoidable part of life is loss. Every human has a hidden clock ticking down. The day they are born this clock starts. This clock is the self-destruct bomb that will eventually go off when the number hits triple zeroes. The day it goes off is the day they are no more. The issue with the idea of “loss” and this bomb going off is not in the loss itself— loss is part of life. The issue is no one knows how much time they have left. No one knows how many more sunrises they will see. No one knows how many more conversations with loved ones they will have. No one knows when the ticking time bomb inside of them will go off until it’s too late.

When that time bomb goes off worlds change. If it’s your individual bomb going off, your time on Earth is no more. People who knew and loved you have to continue their lives without your presence beside them. If your clock is still ticking, and it was someone else’s, you have to learn to navigate life without them. Loss in this way can seem unfair. A sibling gone too soon. A simple accident that turned catastrophic. A friend gone before you could have that conversation. Any number of examples can be used to describe the heartbreaking emotions loss of life present. No one can take the pain away when loss happens. Nothing makes loss easier except time and even time has immense challenges with healing all wounds.

The inevitability of loss is a reminder to cherish the present moment. It is a reminder to be current and maintain focus on the life you are living. When you are present and aware of the current situation, you have an easier time appreciating life around you. You appreciate the conversions you have with friends, family, and loved ones. You appreciate the small gestures and small actions that you will one day remember fondly even if they seem insignificant in the moment. The ever-looming threat of loss is a constant reminder to appreciate more in the now.

It is hard to say anything good comes out of loss. Loss stings and loss doesn’t seem fair. But by encountering and experiencing loss, your clock and the clocks around you rise to visible prominence. They are no longer ticking down in the background, hidden from sight. These clocks and their tickers are daily reminders that nothing is permanent. Through the failure of a life’s permanence, you can better appreciate every moment.