I think it is natural to fear death because we love life and have a very strong survival instinct. However, if we are aware of this and recognize the impermanence of all things, then we can learn to accept death/loss and be grateful for the life we have today, which is truly precious and made more so by its impermanence. I believe that the antidote to fear of death/loss is gratitude for what we have today.

Also, loss is not an endpoint. Loss leads to future gains and losses. When we lose someone we love, there will be future experiences and relationships that enter our life. Similarly, when we leave this world, we open up the way for new relationships and new experiences to those around us.

Yes! I definitely agree that continuously blaming someone for the past will only lead to unnecessary suffering for self and others. I used to blame my mother for a lot of my fears and hypersensitivity to emotions. In fact, much has been written about how childhood trauma can significantly affect emotional regulation later on in life. While this is true, our emotions are complex and based on many different causes and conditions. Similarly, my mother acted based on her own emotions which were then based on their own causes and conditions, including her own difficult childhood. In this way, blaming a single person as the cause for our problems is inaccurate. From this, we can convert blame/anger into compassion and ultimately into true forgiveness.

In my journey I have learned that my emotions are partly based on my own perception of things and my own control of mind. By understanding better how my mind works, I can regulate my emotions without depending on others or external circumstances.

Perhaps we’ve lost the acceptance of the limited time we have, and now spend too much time clinging to the edge of the boat we’re sailing on, rather than looking up at the stars.