Why Death Is Our Greatest Gift

Death is the greatest thing that could possibly happen to mankind. And here is why.

The knowledge that one day we will die gives us a sense of urgency to live our lives. It is our own personal deadline, the day that our lives are due, the day that our lives expire. Because we don't have forever to accomplish something, we know that we need to do as much as we possibly can as fast as we possibly can. Death gives us a reason to wake up and live our lives. Without death we would just lie around and tell ourselves, "Oh, whatever,  I have ALL OF ETERNITY to do that, I can just do it another day." But when we think, "Holy freaking shit, I could like....totally die tomorrow," we feel this urge to get up and live our lives. This urge to get up and accomplish something. This urge to get up and change the world. Without death, there is no urge.

Think about every great memory you have in your life, why do you have them? You have them because you know that you need to live every day to the fullest, that you need to take advantage of every opportunity that you are given. But the only reason you feel these needs is because you know your time is limited. Let me put this into an easier and more relatable example, school work. If we were given no deadline on an assignment we would never do it, but because we have a deadline we know that we must get it done within that time period. Well, the same goes with life. If there are experiences that we want to have we know that, because of death, our time to have those experiences is limited. So we take advantage of more opportunities and we seek out those experiences. However, if death did not exist and we had no deadline to seize these experiences, we would just put them off and put them off and put them off....just like we would with our assignments.

Throughout history there have been many people and many accomplishments that have forever changed the way this world operates. And you know what? They only happened because of the fear of death, because they knew that their time was limited. Some of the biggest inventions in human history were only invented so that we can extend our quality and quantity of life, without death there is no need. The wheel, electricity, cars, airplanes, telephones, the internet, none of these would be in existence without death. Now, even though they wouldn't necessarily be needed since death is not an issue, these inventions still make the world a better place. Because of the wheel, cars, planes, trains, etc. we are able to see more of the world a lot easier. We are able to experience different cultures and different lifestyles. Because of the internet we are able to connect with people all around the world, we are able to impact a larger area and a larger population of people, we are able to spread news, discoveries, and love so much easier. But without the internet this would not be possible. And without death, the invention would never have been made. Maybe Robert Kahn and Vint Cerf would still have had the idea for the internet, but with no pressure of death to get it done they may have just put it off and put it off and put it off.

Trust me, I have experienced the negativity of death, I know how much it sucks. Losing a loved one is the hardest thing that you will ever have to experience in your life, but just look at how those deaths affected you. Those deaths made you a better person, at least for me they did. Every time I experienced a death in my life I took the time to reflect on that persons life. My grandpas death taught me that you must take advantage of every moment you have with somebody, you never know when it will be your last. My buddy Matt's death taught me that you must be kind to everybody that you meet, because you never know how badly they need it or how easily you can change their day with just a simple smile. My uncles death taught me that even the smallest kind gestures can stick with a person for the rest of their lives. 

Death is the greatest gift given to humans, it may be hard to truly accept that, but it's true. Death teaches us to live our lives everyday to the fullest. Death urges us to take advantage of every opportunity. 

What legacy will your life leave behind? And what message will be learned through your death?