Death is Weird

Recently, the film industry lost the talent of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I’m not going to pretend I’m super familiar with his acting career, but the films I did see him in gave me a respect and appreciation for his talent. I wouldn’t consider myself a fan and I definitely never knew the man personally, but I still feel a sense of loss.

As with the passing of Paul Walker and Cory Monteith in the last year, people on social media and in your day-to-day life are going to criticize those who mourn a celebrity’s death. They’ll say that just because someone’s famous doesn’t mean their death is any more tragic than the other thousands of deaths each day. I’m not here to say that they’re wrong.

But when you can put a name to a death, it’s going to feel more real than just hearing someone somewhere in the world died.

If you can put a face to that name, it’s going to affect you a little more.

If you know the cause of death, chances are you’re going to feel some sort of emotional connection.

If you are aware of the accomplishments in that person’s life, you’ll be able to recognize the world’s loss.

If you witnessed any of those accomplishments, you’ll probably feel your own sense of loss.

Maybe you feel some of these things, or maybe you recognize that death is sad but it’s also inevitable. That’s okay. If someone’s trying to tell you how you’re allowed to feel, they probably deserve a punch or two.

The truth of the matter is addiction is a serious issue. It’s something a lot of people struggle with, something with a deep social stigma surrounding it, and it kills a lot of people. Maybe someone sees a friend or a brother or even their future self in PSH’s death. Don’t tell them they can’t grieve.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is outlived by a partner and three children. Don’t tell someone they can’t feel sorry for the kids growing up without their father.

Some people just have problems confronting the reality of death.

Nobody should be demanding that you feel the same about every death you encounter in your lifetime. We’re all going through different stuff in our lives and nobody has any place to claim to understand or try to police another person’s feelings.

Whether you recognize this death as a loss of talent, a man who will be greatly missed, or just another part of the circle of life, you are completely entitled to those feelings.

Stay rad, pals, and R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman.