As If Today Were My Last
November 22nd 2006 12:49
So often when one is nearing death, personal values and priorities seem to emerge and prominently surface from the depths under which they have been buried. Years and years of living a life of superficial immediacy can become a distraction from what has possibly been identified as important, deep, and meaningful. Even the misperception that death is on the approach may be significant enough to feed a re-orientation to the things that possibly matter.
If I can just get through this, I am going to spend more time with my family, many often think or bargain. Or, I am going to go on a rampage of debauchery as if it is up to me and only me to perpetuate the species, others might hedonistically plan. Whatever the goal may be, it is as if now and only now shall this change or life modification take place.
For those of us who are still alive, and plan on being alive for some unspecified amount of time, why not live a life of deep immediacy? An immediacy that is reflective of your valued intent? Why not live your life today as if it were your last day on earth? And then, do the same tomorrow, and on and on and on.
In this immediacy, I think, is where true abundance lives. Whether it is relationships, debauchery, solitude, or whatever else is personally important, why let the value be elusive so that on your death bed you can rue its' absence?
It seems to me that the coming Holiday season is a perfect time to begin living as if today were your last.
Seize The Moment
deorre
If I can just get through this, I am going to spend more time with my family, many often think or bargain. Or, I am going to go on a rampage of debauchery as if it is up to me and only me to perpetuate the species, others might hedonistically plan. Whatever the goal may be, it is as if now and only now shall this change or life modification take place.
For those of us who are still alive, and plan on being alive for some unspecified amount of time, why not live a life of deep immediacy? An immediacy that is reflective of your valued intent? Why not live your life today as if it were your last day on earth? And then, do the same tomorrow, and on and on and on.
In this immediacy, I think, is where true abundance lives. Whether it is relationships, debauchery, solitude, or whatever else is personally important, why let the value be elusive so that on your death bed you can rue its' absence?
It seems to me that the coming Holiday season is a perfect time to begin living as if today were your last.
Seize The Moment
deorre
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Comment by charles
ZCars
Ponderous
Definitely living life to its fullest is the way to go.
Charles.
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Kind of generates a re-visioning.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I have always travelled before marraige and with the prospect of only so many years left to live... I think we do redefine how we want to spend those years... on the road for us I think with a laptop, map and a hot cup of tea... heading for the horizon in a mobile...or somewhere getting of a plane...
...that's personal preference, but this is a great question everyone should ask themselves I think...dying or not... because in reality we are all dying..slowly..anyway...
I think it's what the ancients meant by Carpe Diem, indeed...
Lilla...
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Thanks for the comment, Lilla.
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
You probably already recognize this in your post. But just to make it explicit...
If this were your last day, would you be working at all? Shouldn't you quit your job?
Shouldn't you eat as unhealthily as you like?
Shouldn't you risk your life in dangerous activities, if you got a kick out of them?
And if you were less sociable, shouldn't you rampage around raping and killing, if this pleased you?
But we don't quit our jobs, and seldom do the less sociable among us rape and kill willy nilly, because we know that in all likelihood this is not our last day, and it would be foolish to live without an eye to consequences and tomorrow...
Comment by Populist Conservative
I like the saying from "The Shawshank Redemption":
"Get busy living or get busy dying."
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons