The Art of Ending. Even as I type the word, end, there’s a feeling inside of me that cringes. Endings in my life have been painful and eventful. The divorce, the job, the relationship, the move, or the conversation. The pain unbeknownst to the bystander fills my being with an ache that permeates my entire being. Was I right? Was I wrong? Does it really matter for it’s the end. I’m reminded of the Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe song: “Todo Tiene Su Final ,” Everything has an ending.
Just maybe though, faith in God would have me believe, that this supreme being can make beauty out of ashes. The end doesn’t have to be so painstaking. It would be uncomfortable but not overwhelming as the promise of hope would usurp the sense of dismay.
Perhaps not faith; Maybe Existentialism can give a weighted perspective on Ends. We are after all beings with freedom and capacity to make choices. The choice on how view the end. We get to define our own meaning in life. Our meaning need not be dictated by others opinion or labels someone gave us like Bipolar (They actually don’t know what the word really means). Much like Eye movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) we get to rewrite the narrative and give it meaning to our existence.
Sartre’s challenge is to accept responsibility for our choices while embracing the inconceivable unknown. At times our choice is to end and other times ends are thrusted in our face. Regardless, with an end comes an unknown of a new beginning.
“I took a test in Existentialism. I left all the answers blank and got 100.”