This is something that I have been thinking about for quite some time now, so much that sometimes I joke about being like Thanos (a comic book character obsessed with death). Yes, today's subject is DEATH.
Why?
Because I have found that facing the idea of your own death (as a physical form) is tremendously liberating and empowering when approached in a certain way.
What am I talking about here? Simply that once you remember that you will die, it is much easier to remember what is really important in life. Think about it for a second, or better yet, experience it fully in your imagination...
Your body is dead. You have passed on (where?). The date: tomorow. Are you ready? Have you done all that you have set out to do? Do you even KNOW what you are here to do? Do you even have a list or a basic idea of things you want to accomplish before you die?
Most do not.
Many die without ever accomplishing anything worth telling others about other than what NOT to do. How sad is that? To live your life only to serve as a bad example that others can learn from? Wow. That's pretty bad if you ask me.
You don't want to live your life so that no one ever mentions you ever again after you die, other than on a geneological tree, do you? Don't we all have a deep seated desire to live a life worth living, a life worth talking about and learning from? Don't we all desire to have a positive impact on the world and on the people in our lives?
Well, one of the principles of life is to "begin with the end in mind".
To live an amazing life, begin with your death in mind.
So take a few minutes here, now, and imagine what your funeral will be like, and what people will say about you. What do you want them to say? After that, start to live so that it becomes true.
And remember, you could die any minute, are you living in a way to make yourself proud? Are you truly being the person that, deep down, you desire to be? If not, then be that person right now. You could be dead any minute.
Hey, if you are going to die and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, not even if you release all limitations and live for 10,000 years (eventually you will have enough and move on)... why not make peace with it now and release all fear surrounding it. It's gonna happen, accept it and be happy.
On the other hand, there's nothing like the fear of immediate death to get people to drop every little insignificantly stupid doubt and limitation and just ACT. When things are life or death, all we care about is the BIG PICTURE. And as long as you use that focus to improve yourself and the world around you, I say it's a very empowering thing.
Some have called Death the greatest gift to Life.
I would tend to agree.
Make friends with Death as a reminder that Life is not to be wasted.
If you imagine Death hanging around somewhere nearby like some laid-back guy or girl, watching lazily and waiting for the time to be right, not evil or anything, just someone doing its job with a air of understanding... it might keep you focused on the "important" things a little bit more.
Death might come in the next moment, or in a thousand years (who knows). Live your life so that you are always ready, relaxed and with a loving smile on your face, and you will be an inspiration to all.
Have a wonderful life!
Charles
Copyright © Charles Begin
2 comments:
I couldn't agree more, Charles, and coming from someone who has been face to face with death a few times, that means something. It really opens your eyes to just how fortunate you are and makes appreciate the smaller things in life. I think you just hit the nail on the head because when I was strapped to that back board at the Royal Alex I really got to thinking and, yes, I have lived a full and adventurous life, but there was still a long list of the "I wish I had done"'s.
Good Post Buddy,
Troy Smyth
This is true. I am only an 11-year-old child, and I, too, can see this. When I look back at it, my life was flashing before my eyes when I was swallowed by that wave in Mexico. And all I could see were the happy moments, rather than seeing myself drowning. And I fully agree with Troy, about the "I wish I had done's" but I saw more happy moments than these
"wishes".
P.S. I made the first comment about your "perfect man, perfect woman" statement, and I'd use the same words for this comment, but I wish not to sound like a broken record player. Thanks again, Levi.
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