After summer we were all ready and refreshed to come back to the youth wing for our September meeting and looked forward to meeting our fellow youth members and welcoming back our youth wing coordinators Ghaya and Tom.
Our session this month focused on a topic that is often very difficult to grapple with, life after death. There are many different perspectives of what happens after death. Although there is uncertainty as to what happens after death, we felt it was a crucial topic which should be explored and we should not be fearful of discussing it.
We expressed our ideas on what exists after life using diagrams and drawings. Each individual’s thoughts differed with ideas ranging from traditional concepts of heaven and hell, to blank pieces of paper illustrating there is nothing after life. A number of ice breakers were involved to lighten the atmosphere and to recharge our energy as discussing life after death can be mentally challenging.
The session ended with an eye opener; entailing the tragedy of Dr Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and sadly, passed away.We watched a short video discussing his book, ‘When Breath Becomes Air’, which he wrote after his diagnosis. The book reflects on his transition from a doctor to a patient and shares his ideas on life including the idea that life was not about avoiding suffering. Today, most people do all they can to avoid hardship however sometimes we need to suffer as the lessons we learn from suffering are often the best lessons in life. Dr Kalanithi’s story was tragic, but his perspective on mortality and the meaning of life is unique and thought provoking.
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| A quote from the book "When breath becomes air" |
