Memento mori – do you want to live a happy life?
The literal meaning of memento mori is: remember to die. An age-old slogan that originates from the time of the Greeks and Romans. The fact that everyone dies one day is a bitter pill to swallow for a large number of people. Yet it is something that not everyone thinks about. You may also be thinking “Why should I think about this? Isn’t that just depressing?”
It is a fact that every human being dies, and that is something that people don’t really think about enough. Because why would you only do what makes you happy in the future? Memento mori makes us realize that the here and now, today, really matters. Because that’s the only fixed thing you have. Tomorrow is not a given. Only the present. Live more intensely and consciously with this spell in mind.
How often are you in the supermarket, and are you annoyed by someone who takes too long at the checkout? Or perhaps you sometimes think of that embarrassing moment in high school? Or that one love we last saw three years ago… All subjects on which we can exert little influence (anymore). And yet the average person thinks about it often enough, and sometimes gets very stressed out about it.
Memento mori – Remember to die
Do you remember the first time you knew you were going to die one day? Was that a difficult moment for you? What’s it like to read this and be stopped? This often gives people an uncomfortable feeling. Or, of course, even anxious, and that makes perfect sense.
The fact that every human being is mortal is reflected in countless beliefs and philosophies. We also see that this is an important theme in Stoicism[HYPERLINK STOICISM BLOG].
Every day could be your last day. Memento mori – remember to die. Wherever you come from, whatever your profession, whether you are poor, rich, powerful or whatever…everyone dies one day. The vast majority of people lead their lives with the thought “There is still plenty of time, that will come later”
“So throw everything overboard and keep only those few things. Remember that everyone lives only in the present, this brief moment. The rest has already been lived or is still unknown. Everyone’s life is short; small is the corner of the earth where he lives; short is even the longest fame in posterity.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Stoic.
It does sound a bit depressing to keep memento mori and “dying” in mind. Yet this is not intended. It is especially important to reflect on this, so that you do not live your best life tomorrow, but today. Not in 2 months. Not in a few years. But now. No one knows when his or her end will be.
Memento mori in this century?
Memento mori – Use life to the fullest, in a way that makes you happy. Be inspired by the train of thought and look at it in a positive way. Live the life you want to live, and stop feeling like you’re being lived. Because that’s the tricky thing in this modern age with a demanding society: Everything is expected of you by your parents, school/work, your social circle, etc.
The concept of Memento mori makes people reflect on the thought: “What do I actually want?” and “What makes me happy?” Learn to exercise more control over precisely these thoughts and set yourself up to do more things today that would really make you happy. Everyone can apply some of this thinking in everyday life. It is therefore not surprising that this slogan has received so much attention in recent years, and that it is flourishing more and more.
Perhaps it is even something you would like to apply in your life. Do you quickly lose the overview? That is understandable, especially in this day and age. Fortunately, there are certain calendars that help you very well on your way to exercising more control over your own life. Feel free to take a look and take back control of your life.
Memento mori is a wonderful spell to live by
Memento mori – remember to die is a slogan that more and more people can join. Other Latin proverbs such as ‘Carpe Diem’ are similar to this and this one, for example, is already a lot better known among the general public.
It is a nice fact to reflect on what you really want every day. And of course, not everything you want can be achieved in a day, or in a week, a month, a year… but the important thing is that you actively think about how you want to live your life. What really matters to you and what it takes to be happy.
Because what if today was your last day?
Of course, your problems and stress will not disappear overnight. In fact, life is and remains difficult and is hard work. But what if you start with the little things? Learn to enjoy a simple walk through the woods again, or the smell of a delicious freshly baked cake. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying the bigger life events, and you’ll be sitting with your loved one on a beach in Spain, where you’ve always wanted to go.
Not sure how or where to start? No problem. As mentioned earlier, there are functional calendars that can support you in starting the life you want to lead. The life that makes you happy. Not tomorrow. But today.
