This is all Temporary

    

    We're all just passing through. I think it's important to stay aware of this fact. We often get so caught up in ourselves and the drama of life that we lose sight of this fundamental and undeniable truth. We make big deals out of nothing and fail to notice the splendor and magic that is right in front of our faces. 
    The Latin phrase memento mori literally means, "remember that you have to die." The great Stoic philosopher, Seneca, advocated contemplating one's death before sleep and upon waking. Christians in the middle ages riffed off of the idea and developed the artistic expression of the Danse Macabre (Dance of death). They would illustrate the Grim Reaper dancing a pope, king, child, and laborer to the grave. The Buddha said, "some do not understand that we must die, but those who do realize this and settle their quarrels." Even sundials are notoriously famous for their clever inscriptions meant to remind us of the fleeting nature of time. One of my favorites is related to us in the podcast, S-town. It reads, "Life is tedious and brief." All these words, images, and ideas resonate so strongly within me that they create a sense of existential urgency. 
    Memento mori, this simple phrase or mantra is the ice bucket challenge for us to wake up and see this life for what it really is, an amazing and utterly fascinating journey. The ego pulls at us so strongly sometimes that we get consumed by our I, me, and my's. Our fears overwhelm and paralyze us. The id constantly whispers and nags about the four Fs. Sometimes, we just give up, wallow in our misery and fume at perceived wrongs. All the while, precious sands fall through the hourglass, never to be touched again.  
    Mindfulness is a buzzword that's thrown around everywhere these days. You see it on magazine covers and hear Dr Phil talking about it and you probably have a friend like me who drones on about it, ad nauseam. Also, talking about being aware and engaging in mindful awareness are two completely separate things. The term mindfulness is over used so much that it loses it potency. It's also shrouded in mysticism, which can be a real turn off to some, and it's ephemeral. The constant barrage of external stimuli, e.g., crying kids, phone calls, work emergencies, horrible drivers, etc. are constantly pulling us away from this magical space of the now.
    So, what do you do? Well, simply recall that this is all temporary, all of it. Richard Carlson knows this and wrote one of my all time favorite books, Don't Sweat The Small Stuff... and it's all small stuff. In one of the chapters, he reminds us that nothing is a big deal until we make it a big deal. This simple, yet insightful revelation reminds us that WE ascribe context and meaning to situations. The initial emotions that bubble up from our unconscious mind are fast and automatic and important to acknowledge, but they can be tempered and tamed by our slower, but more rational frontal lobe. So, memento morti, look at the beauty, and practice the pause. It gets easier. 


Additional reading

Keep Calm in Chaos
Stoic Emotions