Time To Embrace The Thought of Death

Death is one event we cannot play mind games with. It is inevitable. We can’t even have proper knowledge of how or when it’s going to hit us, until the very final moments when it’s almost too late to put anything in order or say the necessary goodbyes.

We must live like we know death’s coming. We must remind ourselves every time. Every day. Every hour. We may think it’s too pessimistic and negative a way to live our lives but that’s not what it’s really all about.

For me, the thought of death has got to be one of the greatest motivators, if not the greatest of all time. The thought of death not only keeps us doing right things, it fuels our drive of pursuing our dreams relentlessly, and making the best use of our time here.

Sometimes, when we think that this could really be my last day here…. how does that feel? I’m talking about those few occasions when reality dawns on us that death is real and that one day it could just be us, or this guy or the other guy. At that point we want to try to leave as many good experiences as possible with everyone we meet. We want to ensure that our actions are tailored with nice intentions and that our priorities are in line with the things that hold more significance to our joy and happiness.

Why are all these coming up?

Because we think we just might be running out of time.

The truth is we are. And that is as true for the ninety-year old man as it is for the twenty-three-year-old with dreams of becoming an astronaut someday.

Sadly, we hardly ever think about in that way. We have built mental castles around ourselves and those who mean something to us. We convince ourselves that it can’t be us or them.

Death is real, and yes it happens.

Whenever it takes a loved one away, the experience is painful, but more importantly leaves a lasting impression on us, eventually influencing our general perception of what life really means.

When we wake up each morning thinking that we could breathe our last or that it’s possible to lose a loved one, it kind of helps us appreciate life more, causing us to want to do better, for ourselves, our family and for others.

If today was your last day, would you be doing what you want to do now? Is that what you want to be remembered for? Is that the last memory you want people to have of you?

Now imagine if we religiously processed that thought in our heads every single day of our lives. Think about how positively it would influence the way we approach each day and how way we treat others.

It is necessary that we start using the ‘thought of death’ as a tool to improve ourselves in as many areas as possible. We do not have to wait until something tragic reminds us that we need to be doing a lot better than we are doing in terms of attitude towards life and people.

Let us not be deceived by the word FUTURE. It keeps us thinking that the time is there, and that we can always push whatever we want to do a few months or a few years further and we keep pushing and pushing until death boxes us into a dead end.

The farther we push whatever we should do, the less real they become and the less likely we are ever going to do something about them. We like to think that there’s a perfect season in the nearest future when everything is going to be all set for us to hit the road.

How much time do we have left?

We have absolutely no idea. We only have as much time as this moment.

This very moment.

That’s all that we have. It’s called NOW.

If we start seeing things from this perspective, with time it will begin to sink in that the thought of death is not as scary as we like to think it is.

People hurt and offend us in more ways than we can imagine and sometimes, admittedly, it’s difficult to let go. So, we naturally tend to think that holding thoughts against the offender or even hurting them in return is our own way of paying back.

Well, it doesn’t work that way.

In reality, seeking revenge or holding grudges affects you more than it affects the other person. It’s like blocking your airways with the hope that the person who has offended you finds it difficult to breathe.

Again, if today were your last, would you spend it holding grudges and revenging offenses? Or would you find a better purpose that gives you a more fulfilling and honestly satisfying day?

In a nutshell, if we live each day like it’s our last, someday, we’d most certainly be right. So, don’t waste your time living someone else’s life, don’t fall for the temptation that you will always have time to do things… that there will always be enough time to while away and still do those things that we plan to do someday.

Life here is short. Very short. Our time while on earth should be spent in the best ways possible; doing the things that we love, treating others in ways that we want to be remembered.

Once again, let’s all have it at the back of our minds that nothing is sure in life… asides CHANGE and DEATH.

It’s Taophieyc!