Death and our time on this earth
Time to read: 4 minutes
Apologies for the delay with today's blog.
Lately, I've been contemplating the uncertainty of my time on this earth. We each have a finite number of days to live. If we're fortunate, we might see 30,000 days—a lifespan of about 84 years. Of those 30,000 days, I've already lived more than 6,700. How do I feel? Small, just a mere human amidst the vastness of the universe. A puppet in the strings of fate. I realize I don’t matter to the universe or to the grand scheme of things. Initially, this realization might sound depressive, but it's liberating. The ancient Stoics understood this well. They faced death as an unchangeable fact. The saying “memento mori” serves as a reminder.
"Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to live. The inescapable is hanging over your head; while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
Once you truly grasp your mortality, you can begin to truly live. Before that, you merely exist. Consider the sky. How often do we glance at it during our daily commutes? Yet, if we take a moment to gaze, it becomes mesmerizing, revealing the beauty of the universe. The same holds true for nature, human connection, music, art—everything in life. We often overlook life's beauty amidst constant work and mindless distractions. Meaningful conversations with friends become rare. We shouldn't live as though time is infinite, for it isn't.
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
Recently, I've come to understand that we all lead different lives, each with its own future. We may cross paths with people again, or we may not. Cherish your time on this earth, as what we take for granted isn't guaranteed for everyone. Yesterday, I had a talk with Linus and a guy from our school, whom we met at a supermarket, about school and our futures. We had such a good conversation that we didn’t recognize that we were standing there for 40 minutes. I shared the sentiment of "work hard, play hard." It's a way of life that rewards effort. We shouldn't solely focus on work, for on our deathbeds, we'll crave more of life. But before we can celebrate, we must put in the effort. And remember, it's okay to celebrate life's moments, as long as we don't harm others.
Identify what brings you joy and pursue it. Don’t waste your days; live as if tomorrow may never come. Though challenging, this mantra is worth pursuing. As a swim coach, I find purpose in the achievements of my students. I feel accomplished, when they are laughing with joy after the have achieved new Prs or having fun in practice in general. I also take pride in my physique, earned through hard work. I could work more, for sure but I find it very difficult to balance between hustling and celebrating. Balancing work and life is a challenge in today's generation. My goal is to live a fulfilling, happy, and healthy life. Who knows if I'll achieve it? All I can do is my part to bring about a positive change. In the end, I'm just a mere human. Marcus Aurelius's quote encapsulates this sentiment well.
"Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
