My friend Death.

Did you see the sunrise this morning? Did you marvel at last night’s watchful moon? When you stood still, looking up at the vast expanse of sky above your head did you breathe in the cool air and give thanks for those moments that make you feel alive? I hope so. Life is short.

Last month I lost a very close comrade. He was too young to go, yet seemingly too vibrant for this world. Our friendship circle drew closer and tighter and through our collective grieving, and conversations with my dear friend, John Christian Phifer, a funeral director at Spring Hill Funeral Home in Nashville, TN, my thoughts on death have changed dramatically.
In conjunction with what it means to live a bolder life, the choice we make in how to view loss and death is imperative to our vision of the world we live in.

During our conversations, John Christian spoke perfectly.
“By fostering a mindful relationship with death we will build a stronger relationship with life. Acknowledging death in our existence can teach us to see the value and meaning behind everything in our lives and create within us a true appreciation for each moment and every person and thing. Death is a necessary part of life itself. You can’t live without dying and you can’t die without living. We are all equals in the eyes of death.”

Both of my younger brothers had already lost close friends. At 31 years old this was my first experience. The grieving of peers looks very different to our pre conceived ideas of funerals or the memory of losing older relatives. It definitely seems closer to home, and induced in me, an intense fear of my own mortality. Yet choosing fear over love is the only sure way to become overwhelmed and begin to operate on a level that is not authentic to our present and only fails to honor the one we have lost.
After many tears, moments of anger, deep questioning and conversation we all made the decision to accept death as a friend.

Alan’s passing has encouraged us all to live presently. To state ourselves as the boldest, more beautiful versions of ourselves. To live out our dreams without apology. To shine more brightly than we may have done before. To embrace what it means to be alive, and mostly, to vibrate in this incredible world we are so lucky to inhabit, surrounded by people we adore.
Our time on the planet is brief. Love with all your heart, speak your truth and live each moment as if it was your last.
If life and death is something that interests you come see our short film titled ‘ADMISSIONS’ You’ll be glad you did.

Admissions, starring James Cromwell