Anonymous wrote:Op here. I posted bc I was surprised how much a death like this—of someone who I respected and liked, someone who meant something to me, but in the end was a old man who was a friends dad—has given me so so much sadness and tears. I think it’s like watching that van drive down in a drizzling morning. And no one to talk to about how people die and today I am literally about to sit down and like…update my work goals for this project I effing have.

I know I am experiencing the most common and mundane moment with this happening and my tears. But isnt it crazy? People gone from this earth and I’m here in Workday on a Monday just …doing the stupid thing.

Like someone said before, I guess I wish I could talk to a friend who would be ready for this conversation.

Anonymous wrote:You need therapy not an rando internet board. Please get some help.

Anonymous wrote:You need therapy not an rando internet board. Please get some help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Death and the process of dying is shocking to Americans bc:

-Americans don’t respect death. It is a commodity. We sell and use guns. We have the NRA that worships guns that cause death, often of innocent people. Deaths are shown on the news every morning, day and night. Our tv shows and movies romanticize death. Death is nothing special until it happens to someone we personally know, then all of a sudden it’s real to us and we can’t handle the reality that a human life is really gone forever.

-Americans outsource everything, including aging parents. Our family structures are very nuclear and close extended families are not as much a thing anymore, so we are no longer involved in the daily processes of taking care of sick family members and aging elders, and helping them have a comfortable transition to death. They’re tucked away until they die, we visit a few times, then there’s the funeral.

-Americans are very selfish and self-centered. More communal cultures celebrate birth, life and death as a community. They ceremoniously and ritually remember and honor their dead loved ones and ancestors. They together embrace and take care of the sick and dying. Death is not a mystery to them, it is expected and part of the cycle of life. They respect death and the dead. Americans don’t do that. Our cemeteries are quiet forlorn places, often without visitors. We bury a loved one then go on about our business.

americans outsource because their jobs expect every waking hour of their lives. I lived in europe for 30 years and nowhere compares to america in terms of the expectation that you are meant to devote most waking hours to work and LIKE IT. and have a great attitude. and 'be excited' about work. other cultures, death is much more woven in. people take many more vacations. they bring their 'whole selves' to work because they can't not. it's implied everywhere in every aspect that we never know when it's our time and so why TF would you CONSTANTLY go above and beyond. and america is like 'we're the best and we have the most money'. But that fact isn't going to help you when you're on dialysis.