Dia de los Muertos is not even close and I’m sounding mournful already, but a recent obituary triggered some much-needed thoughts.
One of the messages from Stoicism I remember the most is Memento Mori, an everyday reminder that death is inevitable. Because it is. This symbolic allegory with its roots in the philosophers (c. 300 B.C.E.) of classical antiquity and Christianity, is an invitation to live our lives as if it was the last day – and as easy as it sounds it is not an easy task, for seldom do we want to think about that!
It is better if we think about it mañana.
Yesterday, a daughter shared a loving memory on social media about her recently deceased father. She wrote that her father spent most of his last days watching the news. It saddened me as I wondered why he would choose to say goodbye amidst the chaos and coarseness of cable news.
Just this past weekend, I was talking about this subject with a group of travel-loving friends. We wondered what we will do when we are no longer able to travel or help others, especially our families.
We shared our favorite YouTube channels about RV trips, travel abroad and travel in general agreeing we are lucky to live in an age where we can find positive videos to enrich our lives, especially in our last days where hopefully we will be spending a lot of time at home. We talked about writing or recording our memoirs along with tidbits of wisdom on life for our grandchildren in case they’d be interested.
In one of my latest posts, The Words Diet, I talk about being selective of what we watch, what we read, and what we talk about and the Bible verses that suggest this for the betterment of our soul. It is not easy but, just like watching what we eat, should be a life’s mission.
Mexico, my home country, celebrates death – once a year. We pay tribute to those who are no longer with us because by remembering them they continue to live among us. I believed my Memento Mori obsession came from my culture, but it also derives from my faith in God who advises me to live the moment, for I don’t know if I will live tomorrow.
The pandemic introduced us to Zoom, Facetime, Chats, and the like, and familiarized us with online videos. I’m grateful for holy mass, art classes, lectures, and RV traveling videos for they brightened the darkness and uncertainty of the time. They gave me hope. In many ways, during the pandemic we were thinking about death and hearing about it often yes…… in the news. I hope everybody consumed as little of that as possible.
Let’s be picky with what our minds and souls consume. Every hour is precious and there is so much good out there!
My mom passed away during the pandemic. On her death bed she asked me to stream videos of the Holy Land and Paris. We watched mass and prayed the rosary together with the rest of the family, and I could sense a peaceful comfort in her.
If you are blessed with a deathbed and a good death, how would you spend your last days?
We might die instantly and without warning. Here one day and gone the other. What would you like for people to remember you for?
Cactus in the Mirror by Nydia O. Studio 