I Love Graveyards

I don’t know why, but there is just something about them.

I don’t identify with any particular religion and I have no loved ones that have been buried, so I have no reason to visit church graveyards, and yet I do.

I find something very calming about them, when I walk through a graveyard I don’t get those familar all encompassing negative thoughts. I just feel at peace and surrounded by love.

I often think negatively, in fact, one of my most frequently thought about topics is death. Specifically my own and my funeral, etc. So of all places you would think that’s where my darkest thoughts would be loudest, but they aren’t.

I often walk up to a particular gravestone and say the person’s name in my head. I pay my respects and wish them the best in the after life.

I don’t even particularly believe in the after life, but there is just something so comforting about it. For each gravestone I walk past, I imagine a soul and a story behind the engraved name.

I set out writing this with the intention of learning what it is I like so much about graveyards. I often think I don’t know why I do things, until I put pen to paper and then the reason behind why I do something becomes clear.

As mad as it sounds, I am comfortable with death. But my reason for enjoying my graveyard walks is because I don’t feel alone. I feel surrounded by kind souls and I respect each of them as I walk through. I like to be alone, so there’s this satisfying juxtaposition at play. I’m alone in the physical world, enjoying my walk but I don’t feel lonely.

There’s something very peaceful and calming about that.