The true meaning of R.I.P.

R.I.P. What is that? It's a noise. A sound. A deeper meaning- rest in peace? I don't think so... Whenever I hear someone say R.I.P. I don't get that definition- I get sadness. In waves, crashing over my entire body whether I knew the person or not. It's just sad to me. To me it seems negative, almost like it really makes them more dead, if that's even possible. I feel like it's the figurative "rip" of our memories, our potential to have known them if we didn't already, to have seen how they looked, to have had your day brightened by their smile. Just from those simple three letters we get death, darkness when we could have just been happy to remember them with a cheery "May you please rest in peace and happiness in our memories and watch over us all while we continue on living" or something to that effect.

A few days ago a guy from my school died from smoke inhalation after attempting to saving his little sister from their burning apartment. Now I can't tell you his name but he was well liked by everyone and the star player of our JV basketball team. I, personally, had never met him but the outcry from those so close to me that did know him is somewhat astounding.

The idea of someone being here today and gone tomorrow is kind of hard to grasp for some, especially those who knew them best. You just can't talk to dead people no matter how hard you try to say the things you left unsaid, know the things you wanted to know, or even to just have made memories that wouldn't be able to be forgotten.

Going back to the event at my school, everyone was wearing white for him today. I wore white out of respect for those who did know him, to show them support. There were white ribbons with "R.I.P. [his name]" on a great portion of people and their backpacks as well. The idea of supporting those who have experienced loss is quite unprecedented, at least in my home town. Once something happens, whether it's a suicide, fire, or even a car crash people are initially sad but get over it soon enough. I just don't see that happening here.

Maybe it's the guy himself, maybe he's special. Or even the proximity of the death. Or the heroic nature of his death- if he hadn't gone back for his little sister (she sadly ended up dying anyways) he definitely would have lived. But in reality I think it's the idea of loss that comes with not having known him, to not be able to make memories, to have something so shocking and sudden happen in your life, or the lives of those around you, it's the idea of "R.I.P."

The notion of being sad that someone who you loved is gone is quite understandable, but you eventually have to get over the rip in your life that happens when death takes them away from you. An inspiring saying that those who have suffered this adversity that is death is: "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Think of the happy times, the great memories because not even death and the mention of "R.I.P." can take those away from you.

-Elle <3