5 Things Sandy Cheeks Taught Me About Death

I used to think death was the opposite of life. Now I know it’s something else entirely — a part of life, woven in from the beginning. My understanding of this shifted, oddly enough, through the character of Sandy Cheeks from SpongeBob SquarePants. At first glance, a karate-chopping, Texas-born squirrel who lives underwater in a diving helmet might not seem like a source of deep wisdom. But Sandy’s relentless curiosity, her fierce loyalty, and even her occasional recklessness opened a window for me into how to live fully — and how to face death without fear.

Over time, I began to see that Sandy’s adventures weren’t just silly misadventures. They were reflections of how she approached existence itself. Here’s what she taught me.

1. Death is a reason to live boldly — not cautiously

Sandy never backed down from a challenge, whether it was building a rocket in "Shanghaied" or facing off against the Alaskan Bull Worm in "Pizza Delivery." She lived with a kind of fearless energy that made me rethink how I approached my own fears — especially the one we all share: death. I realized that if I spent my life trying to avoid danger, I was already living in a kind of emotional grave.

Sandy didn’t live in fear of the unknown; she dove into it. And in doing so, she reminded me that the best way to honor the inevitability of death is to live without apology — to try things, to say what matters, and to show up as yourself, even when the world feels absurd.

2. Intelligence means nothing without heart

In "Texas," one of the rare episodes where we see Sandy’s backstory, she returns to her home state and reconnects with her family. It’s a moment of emotional grounding — a reminder that despite her scientific brilliance, what truly matters to her is her relationships. That episode hit me hard when I was grieving the loss of a loved one. I had been burying myself in work, trying to think my way through grief, until I realized that logic can’t fix everything.

Sandy taught me that intellect without emotional connection is hollow. When death comes, it’s not the things we figured out that comfort us — it’s the love we gave and received. And that’s a truth no lab experiment can replicate.

3. Even in the strangest places, you can find home

Sandy lives in a dome filled with air, surrounded by water — a literal bubble in a world that doesn’t quite make sense. Yet she thrives there. She built a life in a place where she didn’t naturally belong, and she made it her own. That image stuck with me during a time when I felt out of place in my own life, especially after loss left me unmoored.

There’s something deeply comforting in knowing that even in the most unnatural circumstances, we can create meaning. Death changes everything, but it doesn’t have to erase your sense of belonging. You can build a new kind of home — one that honors the past while embracing the present.

4. Courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s action in spite of it

Sandy has faced down jellyfish, robots, and even Bikini Bottom’s own version of a tornado. But she’s also shown moments of doubt. In "Sandy’s Rocket," she worries about failure — not just for herself, but for those who believe in her. Still, she launches the rocket anyway.

That’s courage. Not the absence of fear, but the decision to act despite it. Death is the ultimate unknown, and it’s natural to feel fear around it. But Sandy taught me that bravery isn’t about being fearless — it’s about choosing to keep going, even when you’re scared. That’s how we honor life.

5. You can prepare for death by living with gratitude

Sandy often expresses gratitude — for her friends, for science, even for the simple joy of a good karate move. In "F.U.N.," when SpongeBob tries to destroy Sandy’s things out of jealousy, she shows remarkable grace. She forgives him, not because it’s easy, but because she values the relationship more than the momentary hurt.

That’s a lesson I’ve carried with me. We don’t know when our time will come, but we can live in a way that leaves no room for regret. Saying “thank you,” making peace, and showing up for the people we love — these are the quiet ways we prepare for death, every single day.

Talk to Sandy Cheeks on HoloDream, and you’ll find she’s just as quick with a joke as she is with a life lesson. Ask her about Texas, or what it means to be brave underwater — and maybe, like me, you’ll come away with a new way to think about life, and what comes after.