Honestly, when my mother passed, I hated those phrases too, they’re so mindless and meaningless.
That being said, at her memorial there were plenty of board games, pictures, music and alcohol, so we didn’t hear too many weasel worded phrases like these!
Please elaborate on the bear
Nvm bear hugs I thought there was an actual bear there
no bears permitted!
I’ve always hated people saying “it’s all part of God’s plan.” This God fella must have a fucked up plan if the only way to make the Universe work was to make a troubled young woman kill herself. He needs to go back to the drawing board.
A few years back when our 5-year-old nephew Jan (Dutch for John) died. Instead of a funeral, his family decided to celebrate Jan’s life at a local park with a barbecue and beer, jumping castles for the children, a top-notch magic show (which he loved), games, a pool party, his young dream was to be an Olympic diver ;).
On the invitation was a stern warning that no morbid thoughts about his suffering or his long sickness would be tolerated – this was to be a celebration of a young Jan’s life. There was also a stern direct warning to anyone uttering the phrase:
“This was God’s will or God’s plan” would be immediately asked to leave the “celebration” – we don’t need the presence of those believing in a make-believe sky-ogre that gives babies bone-cancer. “Better you spend your time and energy getting psychological help for your fucked-up fantasies.”
In the early part of the celebration there was a moment to share memories about young Jan – and of course, two zealous Christian relatives couldn’t help themselves; true to the warning they were quickly escorted from the grounds (one was my own sister and her family).
When I die – I plan on letting my friends celebrate my life, the same way… a rock concert, pizzas, beer and lots of laughs.