I enjoyed [The Revenant] for a number of reasons but the one that stuck out the most was the harshness of the landscape that [Hugh Glass], protagonist and real life inspiration, lived in. I feel as though many modernized humans are missing something by being so far removed from those key ingredients to living (pain, suffering, death).

It was fun watching someone operate while immersed in the wheel of life, pain, suffering and death. Living a westernized life seems to have convinced many that we are on a path which leads to transcending the need for pain, suffering and “unnecessary” death.

The ideal, of course, is living harmoniously within our jungles, concrete or carbon, but our path from here, to that utopian there, is going to require a lot of pain, suffering and death. Even after we get there, pain, suffering and death will be there waiting for us born anew.

I often wonder what the logic of a pacifist is. The luxury of branding oneself pacifist is afforded through the pain, suffering and death of others.

Or those who like eating meat? Pain. Suffering. Death. If you are fan of meat or pacifism, you are a fan of pain, suffering and death. As a matter of fact, if you are a fan of pleasure, comfort and life you are, by definition, a fan of pain, suffering and death. One can’t exist without the other.

I feel as though there is a lack of education surrounding pain, suffering and death.

So many resources wasted trying to avoid pain, suffering and death.

No one is given the tools to deal with pain, suffering and death.

It’s like everyone is constantly on the move chasing pleasure, comfort and life and trying to avoid pain, suffering and death.

I’m not trying to say pain, suffering and death should be chased, but I do think they should be embraced.

Watching that movie I heard that call from the wilderness. Beckoning me to get closer to pain, suffering and death. I like meat. I feel a need to experience the chain. To hunt. Not for sport. Not for fun. Because it’s real. I believe that experience would have a profound effect. To be immersed in the process of creating pain, watching suffering and bringing death.

We are all a part of that chain, but we’re so far removed as to believe creating pain, suffering and death is a “bad” thing.

It’s not bad. It’s necessary. The trick is, how to be efficient with it? How to respect it? How to embrace it?

This reflection has taken me to a funny place. I’m reminded of [the science behind gratitude journals].

I’m really grateful to those who have, are and will experience pain, suffering and death so that I can live the life that I do. Soldiers, migrant workers, oil and gas workers, factory workers around the world, the dance of pain, suffering and death between Native Americans, Europeans, Africans, Hispanics, Asians and others which created the America I grew up in.

Thanks.