Memento Mori – “Remember You Must Die”

On the face of it, the Latin phrase ‘memento mori’ seems like a morbid reminder that death is just round the corner. It’s coming for you, be afraid as you don’t have long left. However, that interpretation couldn’t be less accurate.

Memento Mori is not meant as a morbid reminder that death is upon us, it’s meant as a powerful reminder that tomorrow is not guaranteed and therefore we should be present and enjoy today. We should treasure everything we do as though it may be the last time we do it. The next time you gracefully glide into the ocean, appreciate the coolness of the water as your body adjusts to the temperature and appreciate the beauty and power of the liquid mountain-like waves. Next time you take a walk out in nature, appreciate the magnificence of the trees that are the lungs of the earth and the innocence of the creatures dwelling among them. Remind yourself that tomorrow is not a certainty and take a moment to remember that there is going to be a last time for everything you do, and a last time for everyone you see. When you realise that this time could be the last time, you will begin to truly value the importance and beauty of that thing.

‘Memento Mori’ also reminds us that our actions outlive us, and that in order to have lived a life that provides a positive impact on others, we must be good, and by good, I mean to make the right choices. The choices that are morally right, the choices that enhance your life and that of others around you. If you make decisions based around good intentions, then you can have solace no matter the outcome. Even actions and gestures made with the best intentions can sometimes have negative consequences that were unforeseen. Actions and gestures by themselves are neither good nor bad. The intention preceding the action however is. Sometimes the results of an action or gesture will be undesirable and that’s okay. it doesn’t mean that you made a bad choice or a bad decision.

Seneca said “You are living as if destined to live forever; your own frailty never occurs to you; you don’t notice how much time has already passed, but squander it as though you had a full and overflowing supply – though all the while that very day which you are devoting to somebody or something may be your last. You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire.“ I believe that what he was trying to say here is that our time in this world is finite. Be sure to spend it on pursuits that you deem worthy. Do you want to spend your time killing yourself for a promotion at a job you hate, playing a sport that you are no longer passionate about, or consuming social media that doesn’t help enlighten you? Or would you rather spend your time in the presence of loved ones, working a job that isn’t soul destroying and doesn’t cause you stress, learning a new language or putting your emotions and visions onto a canvas for the world to see?

If you are struggling to determine what you believe to be worthy of your time, ask yourself what are you afraid of in death? Are you afraid of not being able to watch a new series on Netflix, reply to a work email outside of work hours or are you afraid that you are no longer going to be able to spend time with someone important to you or that you’ll no longer be able to continue doing things that help promote positivity within the society we live in?

Memento Mori should serve as a reminder for us to use our time wisely and to cherish what we have and also to help us accept and prepare for the fact that what we have today we might not have tomorrow. That might be a car, a job, a roof over our heads or the presence of a loved one in our lives. Be appreciative for what you have, don’t be upset for what you lack. The homeless person sleeping on the streets would feel immense gratitude and appreciation if he was given a hammock that he could tie between the trees and use for comfort. If another man lost his apartment and found himself with just a hammock between the trees to sleep in, he may feel resentful and only then may he begin to appreciate what he had. By that point it’s too late. The legendary Bruce Springsteen once said, “poor men want to be rich, rich men want to be king, and a king ain’t satisfied ’til he rules everything”. My take on this is that if we don’t learn to control our desire we will never be satisfied, that is not to say don’t strive for more, but do not strive for more at the expense of being good and take time out to appreciate what you have right now accepting that one day you won’t have it anymore. Memento Mori.

Peace and love everybody, peace and love.