Death reveals value of life

NAIROBI, KENYA: We loved you very much, though we never had a chance to let you know this; and this hurts. Your passion for life, strength of spirit, courage and determination were insurmountable. Life would be better with you around. Your parents, sisters and brothers miss you dearly. When will we dance together, or laugh again?

Destiny will tell. Till then, keep well. Meanwhile, we live, we thrive, we strive, and we survive. We feel no gloom, knowing time’s loom loops: light and dark, midnight and noon.

These words are from my siblings, and are dedicated to our late sister. Exactly 14 years ago is when we sent her off.

Her death crashed my world. For months I was depressed and missed her terribly; I thought about her every day and counted the days since I last saw her.

Thankfully, life happened and I stopped counting. Okay. May be I didn’t stop counting but I got distracted from my grief.

Last week’s demise of Maya Angelou brought back memories of my sister and I found myself comparing their lives.

Maya, having lived for more than eight decades, was a great inspiration to many. Even though I did not know her at a personal level, her works as an author, actress, screenwriter, dancer and poet had a deep impact on my life.

Jane was barely 20 when the jaws of death snapped her life, but she must have died without regret for a full life she had lived. I long stopped regretting her passing on and chose do draw lessons from her sudden departure.

Even though we never seem prepared for it, I know that death is one of the main guarantees of life, and one has to experience it to truly understand what it is all about.

I know that death can bring one down, but I also know that eventually, no matter after how long, one moves on, and that is when they discover just how strong they really are.

I know that death somehow inspires one to find their passion and live it, because they make out that life is short. You realise that if you are to leave a legacy, you will have to start doing something to better your life now, today.

I realise the irony of life. Your world could be at a standstill but the sun will still rise and the stars will shine. Heck, others will be heard laughing their loudest.

I know that death jars one to reality because what has been happening to other people has happened to you — right here, right now.

Suddenly, schools, jobs, money and the status they all bring don’t matter that much. Love, life, honesty, peace and togetherness are what matter more.