“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.11
In De Brevitate Vitae, On The Shortness of Life- Seneca begins the essay with a bold accusation. Most of us live as if we’re immortal. We’re under the illusion that we’re entitled to all the time in the world. That life can only end after we’re done doing whatever we want. At some place in the distant future- when we’re wrinkled and grey. After we’re done enjoying it.
He’s right. Why? Look at the way we squander our time on trivialities. We lose a quiet evening to resentment, sadness and pointless arguments. We spend years working a job we know deep down doesn’t fulfill us. We keep postponing reading the book, joining the run club, starting a business, going on that road trip, apologizing to the person we wronged, having that difficult conversation- because we assume we can always do it later. There will be a perfect time, we say.
Seneca thought otherwise. He said life is long enough if we know how to use it well.
This is where the idea of Memento Mori comes from. Remember you’ll die. I don’t mean for this to be gloomy. But to remind you to keep your house in order because we’re running out of time. Everyday we’re getting closer to our death.
Marcus Aurelius had an interesting way to think of this reality. He told himself to think of his life as done and whatever remained as extra. Think about that for a second.
Imagine you were told that you had one year left. What becomes embarrassing to continue caring about? Who would you call? What would you stop tolerating? What would you finally begin? What would you regret- if everything you dreamt of was possible? Which resentment would suddenly look absurd?
Now death becomes a filter for your decisions and the quality of your thoughts.
You can use it whenever you find yourself trapped between courage and avoidance.
Ask if you’d love to spend one of your final moments with this person before staying in the wrong relationship for another year. Ask how many more mornings you assume the universe owes you before postponing the project again. Imagine receiving the phone call that says you were days too late when pride stops you from calling someone you love.
And don’t just reflect. Turn the impulses you’re getting into action.
Stop- What habit is consuming your time without giving you much in return?
Start- What important thing have you delayed because you assume there will be time later? What’s stopping you from starting right now?
Reconnect- Who or what have you neglected that matters to you?
Also, other than prompting you into action, thinking of death helps you re-administer taste, enjoyment and value to ordinary life. There will be a last time you’ll be viewing the sunset. A last time you’ll appreciate the shape and spirit of someone beautiful, a cool painting. A last dinner you’ll have with a person you love. Someday you’ll have your last workout- the endorphin rush. A last walk through your childhood home. A last stupid joke with an old friend. And usually, you won’t know it’s the last time while it’s happening.
This should change how you participate in your life. You’re not getting another one.
This is one of the practices behind our private community The Stoa.
I’m building it for serious readers- new and experienced- who want to practice and integrate Stoicism as a way of life through weekly challenges, exercises, real-life dilemmas, accountability and rich philosophical discourse that traverses all areas of life. This will be a year long program that only requires little of your time in a day, as you’ll spend most of your day living by the principles.
The goal is to make Stoicism so ingrained in you that you automatically turn to it when you actually need it. That’s the only way it can change your life.
We launch in 2 days. People on the waitlist will be invited first and receive a special launch discount.
If you want to join the waitlist, reply to this email with the word STOIC and I’ll add you.
Ignore if you already did.
With love,
Antonius Veritas, M.D