Memento Mori
I recently read some interesting thoughts on the topic of death.
They mentioned the concept of Memento Mori.
It’s a Latin phrase that translates to “Remember you must die”.
I first heard about it in high school, in German literature class.
It sounds negative and morbid at first, but it’s not.
It’s supposed to remind us of how brief life is and evoke a sense of urgency and gratitude.
It does not sound negative to me at all, it fills me with happiness.
Because it is true.
How many things can you say for certain are true?
If you really think about it: not many.
But everyone knows that they will die eventually.
We all agree on this fact.
Death is the ultimate truth.
If it’s an ultimate truth, then what can we deduce?
That nothing matters. That life is just a game.
What great news! That means are free to release all of your anxieties, none of it matters.
Imagine never not worrying about outcomes ever again.
Also, if nothing matters, it means you are free to assign life a purpose of your own choosing.
It can be whatever you want it to be!
What joyful news - you can choose what is important to you and it will be correct.
Disregard the opinions of others, only your opinion counts.
Endless possibilities and timelines await!
But wait, there’s more.
We don’t know when we will die. It could literally be tomorrow if you get hit by a bus.
What would you do if you knew you would die tomorrow?
How would you spend your last day?
It’s a useful question to ask yourself.
It forces you to face the brevity of life.
Life is truly short.
If you know what your perfect last day looks like, why not live like that every day?
I’ve recently been figuring out more closely what my perfect day looks like.
Experimenting with adding and subtracting things have allowed me to settle into a groove.
I’ve formed some very sticky habits that allow me to progress.
It seems to hold true that a perfect routine can exist.
It’s filled by work that is meaningful and play that is stimulating and fun.
I like to create space for silent deep work.
It is really difficult to fend off the modern distractions that are trying to pull you in.
But when I can fend them off I enjoy being deeply immersed in the work I am doing.
I find happiness when I am in flow.
It is deeply replenishing.