Day of the dead for the living
It's the season for Halloween parties once again. Tots as young as three are often seen in subdivisions and malls going trick-or-treating for candy. It's a tradition first done by the west and we somehow came to adopt it. Maybe it is because we also set aside holidays to pay our respects to those who have died but also as a way of celebrating with the whole world, even if we don't really know why we have to scare ourselves.
The Church has always believed that when a person dies they either go directly to heaven or hell, in some denominations, there is a purgatory. Thus, in a way debunking the theory of lost souls and ghosts. Although others have personal experiences with the supernatural (like I did myself, recently), some happenings cannot be explained by science or religious doctrine.
Today we are a day early in visiting our loved ones in their graves as the holiday was pushed back by the national government. Still the cemeteries are filled with people who want to reminisce and respect, despite the creepy stories that surround these places. Those who want to make money find creative ways to take advantage of the occasion by selling bottled water, fans, food, and much more. Family traditions that seem to be absurd are still practiced such as preparing food for the dead, staying overnight at the cemetery and going over smoke to ward off bad spirits.
At the end of the day, more than just celebrating the day of the dead, we should ask how we live our lives. Back when I was a teenager (or maybe even up to now) I contemplated ending my life due to the many problems haunting me. Committing suicide seems like the easy way out and the best way to put all these challenges to sleep. However, I realized that being in a casket for the rest of your life won't get you far. It also won't solve the problems hounding you.
Life is good as long as we make it good. Every November, instead of remembering the dead I contemplate our lives and the one shot we have at it. Life will be beautiful as long as we want it to be. There may be some circumstances that we cannot control which may lead to an untimely death but everything happens for a reason. Life is also short, so make it count. We can make it as long as want, and as meaningful as we think it should be.
As we go back to our hometowns and visit the graves of dead family members, maybe we can take a step back at the mundane traditions that do not define who we are. Maybe we can make memories instead with the rare opportunities to be with our family and friends who we seldom see due to our busy schedules. Don't let the world die on you because you chose to. Live and be happy.
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