Death is a pretty morbid subject, but I am going to try and put a positive spin on it. Death is inevitable, so almost everyone has likely had the misfortune of losing someone close to them. I have been very fortunate to have not lost too many loved ones (knock on wood) but those I have lost definitely had an impact on me. For instance, my grandfather passed away a few years ago who is one of the most gentle and kind people I have come to know. Seeing him in an open casket was nice in that I got to see him one last time, but obviously difficult for the mind to consume. We often take those around us for granted, but during funerals we are all reminded how fragile life is and how important it is to appreciate those around us.
At work, we lost an executive who was deeply loved and appreciated a few months ago that I had met at a restaurant about a year prior to his passing. I remember hearing everyone talk about him the day everyone learned of his passing and how many people said they would miss him and how genuinely nice he was to others, which leads me to the reason I am writing this post. I recently heard a quote which basically said those we will miss upon death are people who came into the world crying when everyone around them were smiling, but when they leave the world they will be smiling when everyone around them is crying.