Anthony Michael Bourdain died on July 8, 2018. After a life of ups, downs, addictions, beauty, and hardships, the chef, known for his storytelling ability, made the decision to commit suicide in a French hotel at the age of 61.
Three years later, his death remains, for many, an event that seems inexplicable. It's simply the nature of a man who used food as a vehicle to speak about the human experience, culture, and the inherent qualities and flaws of being human.
Known for his books, television programs, and the many awards he received throughout his career, Bourdain had visited more than 80 countries before his death, inviting his audiences—regardless of the medium or channel—to be willing to look beyond what was immediately available.
The conversation about Anthony Bourdain has been more about his life than his death, about how he lived his later years, how his life changed in 1999 when he wrote his first feature for The New Yorker magazine, the television programs and the stories he told through them.
On the eve of this date, a preview of a documentary focused on the chef's life was released, called "Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain." Those who knew him spoke a little about his life and work. Accompanied by Bourdain's voice, which became a mark of brutal sincerity in a world bereft of it.
Being a man, and perhaps even more so, being a man in Mexico, represents several things. No matter how hard one tries to deconstruct ideologies and behaviors, it's difficult to find social circles where the conversation about depression, suicide, and mental health doesn't present some kind of taboo or extreme discomfort.
It's hard to imagine that those around us can feel so desperate, to the point of considering taking their own lives. We've been told at school, in the media, in our family and friends that we must be strong, swallow our fear, be resilient, and perhaps even be trusted, laugh at the pain or savor the misery.
Likewise, it seems hard to imagine that a man who seemed to have it all suffered so much that he decided to take his own life. A man whose goals were focused on making the world a better place and being a better person suddenly decided it was time to stop that change.
