Being aware of the presence of our demise is as rare as the common sense necessary to count back change.
“Here’s your change, that’s $14.95 from $20, a nickel makes $15, and $5 makes $20.”
Counting change is a game where you start with the end in mind. What about starting or at least being aware of life with the end in mind because life does end, it’s a round trip.
If I knew the end of this life was tomorrow, or today, say after lunch would I: Repent?
Rue the moment?
Regret and moan to the end.
Or find my attention quite expansive?
Express emotions of gratitude? Would my mind become curious and interested? Would I be kinder and nicer?
A philosopher and teacher from the last century, wrote in his epic 1,238-page novel, All and Everything, “the sole means now for the saving of the beings of the planet Earth would be to implant …a new organ…that everyone of those unfortunates during the process of existence should constantly sense and be
cognizant of the inevitability of his own death as well as the death of everyone upon who his eyes or attention rests.”
Best-selling anthropologist, Carlos Castaneda, referred to death as constantly being over a spiritual warriors shoulder in his many books.
Simon and Garfunkel sang “♪So I’ll continue to pretend, my life will never end.”
Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan’s first electric guitarist, picked up the theme on his The Native American album with the chant,
“♪It’s a good day to die♪.”
Put your life on the line.
What do I have to lose?
These clichéd lines of motivation; to not hold back, to get in the flow, to be all you can be, to leave it all on the court, are real!
Mainstream wisdom, from the righteous right to the liberal left, encourages us to be here now, to worship the moment.
Being present to what we love, family, friends, especially this moment. To go beyond our habits and inhabit the thoughts of how do I want to be when I die?
How do I want to be as I live?
We heard of the ‘Bucket List.” Those things to experience even appreciate before we ‘kick the bucket’.
I have an old friend who took this seriously; I mean dying is serious business, a business worthy of paying attention too. Here are some of what he wrote:*
“Is there a cool way to go?
How would you rather go, “MAKING LOVE or MAKING WAR?
“Leaving them Guessing or Leave them Groaning?
“Making a Difference or Making an Alibi?
“Trailblazing or Covering Your Tracks?
“Full of Passion or Full of Pills?
What’s a cool way to go?
“Laughing or Litigating?
“Singing or screaming?
“Praying or cursing?
”Loving or Blaming?”
The author and guru of Death and Dying Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote her way, “At home with lots of flowers, a large window and grandchildren playing by the bed.”
If you’re not appreciating this moment, what are you doing?
*101 Cool Ways to Die by Douglas Gillies
