Memento Mori: A reminder for everybody
"You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think." Marcus Aurelius
During the era of the ancient Romans, everybody has their eyes glued on a victorious general parading on his way home. Being showered with compliments and praised by the crowd because of the victory he has achieved. Only a few noticed a slave behind him whispering "Remember, thou art mortal."
Memento Mori is often portrayed as a skull by artists and religion in their mosaics, paintings, and sculptures.
Most of the time in our life, in this journey we are like that general. For every achievement, we accomplish we think so highly of ourselves.
We often act like we are the best of the best on what we achieved. Often as we are filled with arrogance and pride by our Ego, we forget one thing. We could leave life right now.
Living a life in a purposeful way in the way of not wasting any second might be difficult for us because we don't want to struggle or face obstacles in our life.
The reality is none of us want to talk about death because we are afraid.
This could be the last time you will read my article. This could be the last time I post on this blog. This could be the last day you see your friends or family.
Think about it.
So many of us chase this pleasure and desire to fill the Ego that gives us the feeling like we are on top of the mountain. Whether you are a teen or an adult, you bullshit yourself for Ego driven desires such as the glitz and glamour. But do these material things matter when you are six feet below the ground? No.
Then maybe we should stop bullshitting ourselves and live a more purposeful life from now on. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have fun in your life but what if you start prioritizing what matters.
As you are reading this, you might think I'm overreacting, but I'm giving you a reality check in your life. Do you want to live a life full of regrets? Hopefully not.
Some of you might say I am young so I'm not going to die yet. But how do you know? Just because you are young doesn't mean you won't die. I am just honest with you.
Remember you are not a God. You have one life. Use death not in a depressing way but as a reminder to live your life to fullest and not wasting any second of it.
"Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life's books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time." Seneca
