“Memento Mori”

Last week, for the first time in my life, I heard in a TV Show the expression “Memento Mori”[1] which means “Remember that you {have to} die” and it made me smile because finally I could “name” a though that I have from time to time and sometimes it is a conversation topic my close ones . (A small bracket here, it possible to learn things on TV, I have been learning so much since I was a child, surely, I the content has to be selected, but still it is possible to learn 😉).

Let me explain the death thought , sometimes, I ask people “do you ever think about death?” and When you say something like this in superstitious/ traditional society such as mine, most people will misunderstand you as you are afraid to die or you are “calling” for your death. But, when I say, “think about your death” what I am really saying is “think about your life”. The only certain thing after we are born, is that we will die, regardless of how, the age, or where… that is only assurance we have as human beings, and I think we constantly forget about it. The way we live, we’re educated, we are automatically thinking everyday about the future, the later on, the tomorrow and unfortunately we don’t know if we will have a later. I can’t remember since when, but sometimes after meeting a close one I randomly ask myself if said to that person everything I wanted to, if I showed all my appreciation or love. In the beginning my answer was always “no”, and even today it can be “no”, but I am satisfied with the fact that If I have the chance I can act on it and if not, I am conscious about it.

Luckily, in our days, there are many techniques, approaches such as mindfulness to makes us live and appreciate in the present, but I think if we thought every day that our time as living being is limited we could have a different bust, energy, encouragement to make the most of our days. Yes, I know, it seems, and it is really difficult to be in the present and try to make your best of each day, but it is absolutely rewarding, for you. I don’t mean you have bent backwards every day, or be a superwoman/man, sometimes your best  is surviving trough a day, take a shower, be kind to yourself and others, rest, and sometimes is applying for that job you think you are not worthy, saying “Hi” to that person you think is out of your league, making that dream trip accompanied  or on your own. Memento Mori, maybe we shouldn’t take ourselves so serious through life, we are just passengers here. I don’t mean not making any effort or being responsible, goal driven adults… but let’s not forget to lose it up sometimes, take risks, if we mess it up, if we need encouragement, we’re just passengers here.

For those who know me, they know I keep a gratitude journal (I use to have only a gratitude jar, but a friend also recommended the journal, which I’m loving), where everyday I write at least 10 things I am grateful for, and my life is always the first thing I am grateful for. As imperfectly perfect human being, some days I the gratitude more intensely, and other days to be honest is just part of a daily ritual, but whatever the case is, it remembers me I am alive.

What if you knew today, tomorrow, the next three/six months would be your last ones, what would you do? You don’t need to do everything, but just do something, or few things, try it, expand you comfort zone whenever is possible and necessary.

Be brave. Be you. Be happy.

PN

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori