Roedd rhan o fy interniaeth haf gyda ServiceSpace.org yn cynnwys cychwyn sgyrsiau gyda phobl nad oeddwn yn eu hadnabod, ac un cwestiwn y byddwn yn ei ofyn iddyn nhw yw beth maen nhw'n ei wybod yn sicr mewn bywyd? Rhywbeth maen nhw'n ei wybod yn sicr. Pan ofynnwyd y cwestiwn hwn i mi i ddechrau, yr ateb uniongyrchol a ddaeth i'r meddwl oedd marwolaeth. Mae marwolaeth ym mhobman. Ac nid wyf yn golygu bod marwolaeth ym mhobman mewn rhyw ystyr sinigaidd neu forbid, ond mae marwolaeth yn rhan anochel o fywyd. Yn hytrach na gweld marwolaeth fel rhywbeth da neu ddrwg, mae'n rhywbeth sy'n digwydd.
Pan oeddwn i'n 12 oed, es i i ysgol breswyl a oedd hefyd yn deml. Daeth fy rhieni i'm casglu ar gyfer gwyliau'r gaeaf. Roedd fy mam yn bwriadu aros yn y deml am encil, ond plediais arni i ddod yn ôl gan y byddwn i o'r diwedd adref. Gwrandawodd fy mam arnaf, a dechreuon ni fynd yn ôl i'm tŷ. Roedd y cyfnos yn agosáu, ac roedd y glaw yn bwrw mân. Am y tro cyntaf ers i mi fynd i'r ysgol breswyl, roeddwn i a fy rhieni yn cael sgwrs hapus yn y car heb unrhyw arwydd o ddadlau. Ni allaf ddweud fy mod i'n cofio'r union foment y digwyddodd; ni allaf hyd yn oed ddweud fy mod i'n ei gofio'n digwydd o gwbl. Y peth nesaf y gallaf ei gofio'n amwys yw deffro mewn gwely ysbyty, ac am yr ychydig ddyddiau nesaf roeddwn i'n mynd i mewn ac allan o ymwybyddiaeth.
Mae marwolaeth yn eich rhwygo allan o berthynas ac i raddau helaeth, ni yw cyfanswm ein perthnasoedd. Mae'r berthynas rhwng mam a phlentyn yn arbennig o unigryw ac anhepgor. Sut ydych chi'n dweud wrth blentyn bod y berthynas honno wedi'i thorri gan farwolaeth? Dydw i ddim yn cofio'n benodol cael gwybod bod fy mam wedi marw ar safle'r ddamwain car, ond fe darodd fi pan oedd dim ond fy mrawd, fy nhad, a minnau ar y daith adref.
Mae dyfyniad sy'n dweud, "Pan fydd rhywun rydych chi'n ei garu yn marw, a dydych chi ddim yn ei ddisgwyl, dydych chi ddim yn ei cholli hi i gyd ar unwaith; rydych chi'n ei cholli hi mewn darnau dros amser hir." A dyna sut roedd hi'n teimlo am amser hir. Mae delio â galar fel plentyn yn beth rhyfedd iawn. Roedd angladd fy mam yn union wythnos ar ôl iddi farw, ac prin y gallwn i brosesu'r hyn oedd wedi digwydd erbyn hynny. Roeddwn i'n ddideimlad ac yn gwybod beth i'w deimlo.
Mae marwolaeth mor sydyn a sydyn nes ein bod ni'n mynd i fath o sioc. Y diweddglo sydyn hwnnw ac yna does dim mwy. Dim mwy o gymryd yn ôl popeth a wnaed, dim mwy o'r pethau a fyddai wedi bod. Ar ôl yr un foment honno sy'n newid popeth mae unrhyw beth arall yn rhy hwyr. A dyna oedd y rhan waethaf ohono i gyd, mae'n debyg - y galar o beidio â gwybod sut beth fyddai pe bai fy mam yno ar gyfer y digwyddiadau mawr a bach yn fy mywyd, yn y byd. Am flynyddoedd doeddwn i ddim yn gwybod beth i'w wneud â'r galar, ac mae'n debyg iddo amlygu mewn ffyrdd nad oeddwn i hyd yn oed yn ymwybodol ohonynt.
Ond dros amser rydych chi'n dod i gymodi â'r golled hon. Nid eich bod chi'n iawn gyda hi, ond rydych chi'n dysgu ei derbyn am yr hyn ydyw.
“Gall galar fod yn faich, ond hefyd yn angor. Rydych chi'n dod i arfer â'r pwysau [ac yn dod i arfer â] sut mae'n eich dal yn eich lle." Daeth marwolaeth fy mam yn angor - mewn rhai ffyrdd roedd yn fy mhwyso i lawr. Fe wnes i ddod o hyd i mi fy hun yn siarad am ei marwolaeth llawer mwy nag oedd angen. Roedd fel cân drist yn ailadrodd ei hun ar chwaraewr recordiau wedi torri. Ceisiais wneud iddo ymddangos fel pe bai bod mor gynnar a chyfrifol ar ôl marwolaeth fy mam mewn rhyw ffordd yn fuddugoliaethus ac yn dangos cryfder. Er bod ei marwolaeth wedi bod yn un o brofiadau gwaethaf fy mywyd, des i i sylweddoli nad dyma'r peth drwg cyntaf i ddigwydd i mi, ac mae'n debyg na fyddai'r olaf. Gall marwolaeth roi golwg aneglur ac ystumiedig o realiti.
Mewn ffyrdd eraill, roedd marwolaeth fy mam yn angor yn yr ystyr ei fod wedi fy helpu i aros ar y ddaear. Pan fydd pethau eraill nad oeddent mor dda yn digwydd, os byddaf yn rhoi rhywfaint o amser i mi fy hun ac yn cymryd cam yn ôl, mae'r gofid yn mynd yn llai. Yn lle ei weld fel digwyddiad ynysig o rywbeth drwg, gallaf weld y darlun ehangach. Yn y cynllun mawr, mae'r eiliadau hyn o ddioddefaint yn cael eu hategu gan achosion o lawenydd. Heb fy mam o gwmpas, rydw i wedi dod yn llawer agosach at fy nhad ac mae ein perthynas yn wych. Mae'r brwsio hwn â marwolaeth wedi gwneud i mi drysori perthnasoedd eraill sydd gen i yn fy mywyd hefyd. Boed oherwydd marwolaeth neu rywbeth arall, dydych chi byth yn gwybod pryd y gallai rhywun fod wedi mynd o'ch bywyd yn barhaol, ac nid ydych chi eisiau cymryd yr amser sydd gennych chi gyda nhw yn ganiataol. Mae ei marwolaeth wedi fy helpu i fod yn fwy agored ac estyn allan at eraill am gefnogaeth, ac rydw i wedi cwrdd â digonedd o bobl ddeinamig. Ac mewn ffyrdd cynnil, mae ei marwolaeth wedi fy nysgu i fod yn fwy gostyngedig am fywyd.
Mae marwolaeth yn beth rhyfedd. Er ei fod yn digwydd drwy'r amser, gall eich dallu. Bod yn ddynol yw dod i delerau llawn â sut rydych chi'n ymateb ac yn delio â marwolaeth. Peidio â chael eich llethu ganddi, peidio â chael eich obsesiwn ganddi. Ond peidio â gadael iddi lithro rhy bell i ffwrdd fel eich bod chi'n colli uniongyrchedd y realiti hwn. Oherwydd wrth golli rhywbeth yr ydym yn uniaethu mor agos ag ef y gallwn ddechrau dod o hyd i ni ein hunain.
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I came close to losing my husband a year ago. He has struggled and suffered tremendously this last year and now I see he is slowly getting ready to pass on. I've been learning what grief is, when life takes from you, that which you experience as a foundation is gone. Everything you relate to, formed by the relationship molding your your experience is transformed. Change is the one thing we can learn to embrace and are certain to face, as we proceed down the path of life. Finding who we are as individuals woven into the threads of the fabric of life, ever intertwined. Knowing that what we have shared with those close to us, never ceases to influence and in some instances becomes more pronounced, when a person is no longer in direct contact physical contact with us. The tracks of the aura left by that person seem to comfort and remind us how we've been shaped by our experiences with them.
I appreciate you sharing such a personal story, in such a mature way. It is all about perspective and thank you for your wisdom.
amazing... I have lost a loved one recently but I hVE TO ACCEPT IT..(
THANK YOU FOR SHARING ...
Thank you Thao for sharing your life and for me to learn my lessons . My father and father in law passed away 21 years ago within a month of each other and till today there is an emptiness within me . They were good human beings and I keep remembering and implementing in my life the values and examples they set forth in their lives . Blessings to you .
Thao-- you have no idea what it meant for me to read your story today. Yesterday I asked my mother (whom I also lost when I was 12) to send me a sign about a really tough relationship decision I have recently made. Was it the right one? Could she somehow let me know that I had done the right thing? And, to my disbelief, 6 hours later, your words appeared in my inbox. Through you, she has reminded me of that critically important aspect of life that we often lose touch of: perspective. When you can cope with losing the most important person in your life, you learn that life will go on and to take nothing for granted--especially yourself. So thank you for being the messenger through whom my mother could reach me today. All the best to you.
Thao Phi, The last words you spoke, in the recording of your story, were "thank you for listening". Well I'd like to say "thank you for sharing!" Please continue "talking" (writing) . . . we WILL glad-fully listen to you as your mother now does from heaven. Though physically not present, spiritually, your mom is more present than she has ever been before. You are a strong young lady! Much love to you!
Mothers unconditional love never dies, Life andDeaths are two side of the same coin,spiritualy death is to physical body not soul.we just change clothes.one of my 92 yearfriend use to say every morning with cup of coffee - I hope you live always and I never die.life is creation of lord,we are all his children so our true self is also eternal always love navin
As a parent I can say that if I had to go in a car accident like your mom did, it would mean a lot to me that the last act I did was show my willingness to be flexible for the girl I adore the most. Knowing that you survived and found the power to keep living is that much more valuable. Make the most of your life, find your way and experience it to it's fullest and her dreams will continue to come true. If I had one wish it would be for my children to have that.
We
bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world--the
company of those who have known suffering - Helen Keller
We
bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world--the
company of those who have known suffering - Helen Keller –
A person dies but a relationship never dies.
That is the beauty of death.
Bless you, Thao.
At 16 I performed CPR on my mom in the middle of the night, and although she never regained consciousness she remained alive three more days - long enough for the rest of the family to say their good-byes.
You have captured the feeling of the finality of death very well here. That helpless feeling of not being able to go back, and the final acceptance that it is, what it is.
It is hard to go through the big milestones of life without a mother. I married, had two children (buried my dad, two brothers and a sister along the way too), and at age 50 I still wonder. . . who was she? Who would she be as an older woman? What were her dreams? What would she say about my choices in life?
I don't think about her as much as I used to, but did today reading your story. I like your reminder to "not ... let it slip too far away that you lose the immediacy of this
[Hide Full Comment]reality. Because it's in losing something that we so closely identify
with that we can begin to find ourselves."
Thanks for sharing this Thao. You describe your experience of loss so poignantly. I've posted your final words on my Facebook page, Joyful Mourning. Check it out. http://facebook.com/joyfulm...
sorry, and thank you, i understand completely, Ive loss so many pple, im almost alone, and it does make you realize whats important and whats not. theres one thing I checked on was 150 000 pple die every day, so if you are going through it know your your not alone, there is 149 999 other pple feeling the same as you. :)
My closest encounter with death was in 2011, July when i lost my dearly adored wife. We had been married for 7 years. I had never been so deeply devastated in my entire life. My central purpose for existence had been shifted, and shifted forever. Since then, i have learned to appreciate the gift of life more than ever before, but most importantly, i am constantly happy that i once shared my life with the most beautiful and sweetest soul on earth.
My mother was killed when I was 15, and I can so relate to this writer. I am 71 now, and I still think of my mother every day. I believe that experience has enlarged my life in so many ways I can still hardly imagine. We will all experience it, but an early death changes everything forever.
I am not scared of death, but have a feeling that it must be the most peaceful passage from earthly dwelling to the unknown. Feel like experiencing it