What death teaches us about living

Here’s the truth: Death really sucks.

I know. Not exactly the uplifting start you were hoping for with your morning coffee.

But every single one of us is going to experience it. First, we’ll lose the people we love.

Then, one day, hopefully a very, very long time from now, it’ll be our turn.

That’s not depressing. It’s just the deal.

I recently lost my dad. He was 88, and while I’d gladly take another day with him, I also can’t help but think, what an incredible run.

He flew airplanes. Drove boats. Water-skied. Rode horses. Traveled. Drove an RV around the country. He wasn’t someone who sat on the sidelines waiting for life to happen. He lived it.

Then, little by little, life changed.

The plane stayed on the ground. The boat stayed tied to the dock. The skis collected dust. The horses became memories. That’s what happens if we’re fortunate enough to grow old.

We trade adventures for stories, and eventually those stories become our greatest gift to the people we leave behind.

If we’re lucky, when that day comes, our family is there. They hold our hand, tell us they love us, make sure we’re comfortable and remind us that we mattered.

Then they cry.

A lot.

Eventually, they laugh again because someone remembers that ridiculous thing you did in 1987 that everyone swore they’d never let you forget.

That’s the circle of life.

The world keeps spinning. The next generation takes over, and they start doing things we think are completely ridiculous.

Email? That was my generation.

Tomorrow it’ll probably be a robot making dinner while another one folds the laundry and a third reminds us to drink more water. Frankly, if someone invents a robot that unloads the dishwasher without breaking my wine glasses, sign me up.

Every generation thinks the next one is a little strange.

And every generation eventually becomes the one telling stories.

as awful as it is, also teaches us how to live.

Take the trip.

Learn something new.

Call your parents while you still can.

Tell people you love them before you wish you had.

Don’t save the good china. Eat dessert. Laugh too loud. Say yes more often.

Because when people gather someday to tell your story, they won’t be talking about the day you died.

They’ll be talking about the way you lived.

And if they laugh through their tears once or twice, I’d say you did pretty well.

Wendy Kushel is the owner of Wendala’s LowCountry Sugar Scrub, LLC based in Bluffton. Drawn to the beauty and personal care industry, Wendy founded her company in 2020. Her background includes stand-up comedy, film, TV and a lot of sales and marketing. For more information about Wendala’s® LowCountry Sugar Scrub visit www.lowcountrysugarscrub.com or call/text 843-949-8933.