People over Possessions: Lessons from Funerals and Philosophy

The harsh lessons from attending too many funerals

Death is a solemn reminder that the most important things in life aren’t possessions—they’re people, relationships, and the impact we leave behind.

Recently, I read Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, and I noticed a recurring theme: life is short. It was a reminder that we shouldn’t waste time worrying about what others think, say, or do, or how they treat us.

One of my biggest takeaways was this: because life is so brief, why do we let fear hold us back from pursuing what truly matters to us? We worry about how others might judge us, yet that fear often keeps us from moving forward.

Seneca once wrote, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”

I know it’s easier said than done to ignore hurtful words or opinions. In reality, criticism does sting. The point isn’t to become immune to negativity, but rather to choose to let negative events and comments fall away, instead of letting them hold us down.

Over the last seven years, I’ve attended more funerals than I ever thought possible within one family. It’s hard scrolling through photos on my phone and see images full of loved ones who are no longer here.

Every time I go to another funeral, I’m reminded that it’s never about the money people had in the bank or the possessions in their homes. It’s about who shows up to honor them, the friends and family they leave behind, and the legacy they created.

It’s so easy to get caught up in chasing monetary goals that we forget what truly matters: the people we share this life with—friends, family, and even strangers who cross our path.

Matthew 6:19–21 (KJV) advises, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth… But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

I write this with a heavy heart, not as a plea for sympathy, but as a reminder that life is short.

Pursue what sets your soul on fire, but don’t forget the people closest to you.

In the end, it’s the relationships we’ve built and the ways we’ve helped others that matter most.