So the other day, I received a sobering call from my sister. The husband of a good friend of my cousin had passed. Cancer. Gone. Quick. Not much older than me and my siblings. My cousin’s friend had just turned 60. Now a widow. WTF?
Death is the one immutable fact of life, but the Stoics opine, and I agree, that we get to choose HOW we think about it. Despite our best intentions, and despite all the best biohacks and interventions, we all have our own expiration date. We cannot control if we will die, or even how we die, but we do get to choose how we live. To be aware of our mortality and USE IT to fuel purpose and priority to our actions.
I am a big fan of Stoic philosophy, and one of my favorite Stoic principles is “Memento Mori.” Remember your mortality, for we could leave life tomorrow. This is a common theme seen in all forms of art, literature, and religion throughout history. We all have probably read about it and seen this before.
So why is it the subject of Today’s PrimalMed Prescription?
Well you see that happy loving couple on the ski lift? I miss them every day and I certainly missed them more than ever this past Thursday, as our family gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving. A call to live. To make each day count. And sometimes, that day calls for putting on your candy-striped pants and saucer-sized shades and taking the ski lift one fine autumn day, just to survey the majestic beauty of verdant Vermont.
Memento Mori is NOT a call to chuck it all away, since death is inevitable. It is not a call to take your nest egg and go on a bender in Vegas. No sir. Whether you are 30, 60 or 90. Whether you are healthy or infirm. Whatever the cards you hold in your hand. YOU get to choose how you think about it. YOU get to choose how you spend your time and make each new day a chance to create.
“Memento Mori” IS Today’s PrimalMed Prescription because, at the end of the day, our thoughts, and our responses to those thoughts are all we control and are a VERY crucial input to our own personal supercomputer.
“Memento Mori.” A chance to give each new day purpose and priority.
So this one was a quickie since I have been told that it’s gotta be less than 3 minutes. Don’t get caught up in the random BS life throws at you every day. Or at least put it in perspective. First, brew a big pot of coffee. Go for a walk. Hug your kids. Hug your spouse. Hug your parents. And if so inclined, hug your pet goat.
Memento Mori. Put on your striped pants and have a great day!
Thanks Nick for reading and sharing!
A great read as always. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family!