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The Rock in My Pocket
Dealing with death
After Ben passed last year, I immersed myself in books, articles, and videos about death and grief. There was one analogy that I found in several places that stuck with me.
Death is like a dense, heavy rock that you carry in your pocket. At first, the weight of the rock is burdensome and cumbersome. It’s all you can think about as you try to move forward. It weighs you down. It exhausts you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
The rock doesn’t go anywhere. It doesn’t get smaller or lighter. But, over time, it becomes easier to carry because carrying it has made you stronger.
I often think of that analogy when I’m feeling drained and weak.
I tell myself, Over time, I will get stronger.
One day, but I’m not there yet.
© Dennett 2025
