Maya Angelou

We read a few chapters of this book by Maya Angelou. It was about Life & Death (go figure.) There were a few things that struck me, which was totally true.

“I can accept the idea of my own demise, but I am unable to accept the death of anyone else. I find it impossible to let a friend or relative go into that country of no return. Disbelief becomes my close companion, and anger follows closely in its wake.”

I find that true. If it were up to me to decide who would live and who would die, I would most likely take my own life, if it were to save my friends or family. I would find it easier to take my own life than one of my friends or families. When it comes to my life, I would gladly give it up. But when it comes to my friends/ family lives being taken, I can’t stand it. I would never, ever think of taking their life, or letting them die.

As for “disbelief becomes my close companion, and anger follows closely in its wake.” It refers to the grieving process of losing someone. If you have ever lost someone you loved, your natural reaction is to deny the person that told you. When it really does hit you, when you realize that they aren’t coming back, you instinctively question yourself, get angry at those around you, you lash out.

It’s the same with relationships. You still lose something. Something has died, just not in the manner that we usually think. For example, a couple just broke up. You naturally deny that it happened, then you get angry, then you realize that it will most likely never come back, or at least be the way that it used to be. You can’t kill a relationship and expect it to rise from the dead without it missing something. It will never be the same way again. Sometimes you realize that it is for the best. Back to real dying, if someone was suffering, and finally passed away, wouldn’t it be better that way? Wouldn’t it be better that they didn’t have to live out their life in agony? Back to relationships: Maybe it was for the best. Maybe it wasn’t a healthy relationship? Maybe it wasn’t the right person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. Maybe it was for the best.

Well I have to end it here. Time is running out in class. I am out.

--Sonja