Cemeteries have quite a unique feel compared to most other places we visit. After all, their purpose is to be the final resting place for those who have passed away, so they often offer a calm shelter from an otherwise chaotic world.
This subreddit, CemeteryP***, is exactly the kind of place where people who appreciate this calmness and the sights it brings meet. The group has over 143,000 members, yet there are only two rules: asking members to include context with their submissions and upload their sightings in static images.
Everything else, just like in the rest of the Safe For Work P*** Network on Reddit, flows smoothly without the need for any strict guidance, so if you go there looking for drama, you're probably in the wrong place.
The views in these cemeteries are definitely fascinating, but the color tone is usually still quite a bit more gloomy for those who are affected by the losses personally. And yet, death is actually a very interesting subject with many different views on it.
To discuss this aforementioned subject, Bored Panda reached out to Hanan Parvez, a psychologist with a deep passion for better understanding the human mind and sharing that knowledge with the rest of us.
We began by delving into the question of why death, especially of those close to us, can be so hard to accept, to which the expert answered by explaining that our success in life is often determined by our family ties. "Our dependence on close family is highest when we're young and decreases with age, but it never completely disappears."
Hanan further compared losing a loved one to losing a part of yourself, which is as impactful at the genetic level as it is at the identity level. "It's like losing a body part. You know you can't get it back, but the pain is extreme."
Still, people do get over it. It is a natural part of life, and it's safe to say that everyone is aware of this, at least to some extent. "However, the grieving process is essential because you want to acknowledge the relationship you had with the deceased person," added the psychologist, explaining that this process is more about being grateful for the person who was in your life rather than wishing they hadn't passed away.
Unique gravestones like the one we see in these pictures can help people cope with loss and better remember those they have lost. Creating a headstone that's different from the rest makes it stand out and, in a way, gives it a personality that reminds people of the person it's meant for.
But at the same time, the decision to have something unique might have been the wish of the deceased themselves, as a lot of people tend to be very particular about these details. "So, if you see a unique shade of grey on a gravestone, it could just be that the person buried there liked that color. It's about how the deceased wants others to see them after death," said Hanan, joking that the human need for looking good extends beyond our lives.
Getting over a loss like that is not easy. However, rituals like prayers and visiting the grave to talk to that person can help reassure people that the deceased is now someplace better, which often plays a big role in helping them reach the acceptance stage of grieving.
And yet, in many cases, it seems that people find it easier to let go of someone who has passed away than get over a breakup. "It's because once a person dies, there's no hope of getting them back. In contrast, one could always get back with their ex," explained Hanan, summarizing that most people eventually find ways to recover from a loss without too much difficulty.
So, in the end, there is a lot of uniqueness and beauty, not only in life but also in death. There is a lot we cannot change or predict, and while it may not make us happy, loss is something that all of us have to deal with regardless. But instead of being sad about it, it's better to appreciate what we have while we have it. And when it's gone, take solace in whatever it leaves behind, be it nice memories, captivating stories, or unique gravestones.
What did you think about these pictures? Have you ever seen some headstones that would fit in this list? Tell us all about them in the comments below!
