Been listening to pansori (sung poem) these days and the line I remember said “My friends! You and I will both end up this way.” The scene was about how this blind man’s wife’s funeral was being held, and her coffin was being carried out.
I think my ancestors constantly reminded themselves about how we all die, and by doing so they remembered that their pain is not in vain, and by dying it’s like a completion of their earthly duties. But they also did not hide their sadness about death.
When I’m sad I listen to this pansori because it reminds me that I must do my best to complete my “earthly duties”, whether that is being a good daughter or helping others or something else. I live because I know that I have something to do before I die. Maybe my life has meaning…I hope I remember this before my depression takes over.