Stop Posting That 'Last-Minute' Picture Holding Hands
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Student Life

Stop Posting that ‘Last-Minute’ Picture Holding the Hand of a Dying Relative

It is callous

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Stop Posting that ‘Last-Minute’ Picture Holding the Hand of a Dying Relative

The finality of death is difficult to reconcile with, and the fact that memories fade over time only causes more grief. Thus, pictures are always a wonderful reminder of your loved one.

But, NOT that cliché, insensitive, basic picture of you holding your dying loved ones' hand.

Grieve how you want to grieve, but seriously posting this picture. In fact, it shocks me that while your loved one is dying, the ONLY thing you can think of doing is snapping that 'Instagram worthy picture' to show everyone that you are going through a very trying time.

Personally speaking, I have no pictures of my grandfather during his last few weeks-weeks that were spent in the hospital. The reason? I didn't have TIME to worry about whether or not him and I holding hands was going to get 100 likes. Furthermore, I would have felt ridiculous that in what could have been my last few moments with one of the most important people in my life I was worried whether or not I managed to snap that iconic hand-holding picture.

If you want to share your loss, by all means, share. Show us pictures that highlight the type of person they were, or the better times you shared with them. But please, the hand-holding picture needs to stop. Put your phone down and instead soak the moment in, because you will never get a chance to relive it, to feel their hand again, and most importantly, to just be living in their final moments with them and NOT your Instagram followers.

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