Let us prepare our minds and actions as if we’ve come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing.  –Seneca

Two weeks.  That is how long the letter stayed on my desk.  It was written to a literary agent as a pitch for my latest manuscript.  I had spent the past three years perfecting the story, researching the market and massaging my business plan.  I had spent another month re-working the tone and content of the letter.  And I had wasted two weeks planning and failing to get a stamp for the letter.  C’mon, now!

Then I was exposed to the concept of Memento mori.  And that has made all the difference.

At face value, Memento mori (“Remember to die”) doesn’t sound like the stuff of positivity and resilience.  But this ancient practice of reflection on mortality is actually the essence of passion and appreciation.  It is a tool to create priority and meaning in our lives.  Why wait to be the person you were meant to be?  Tomorrow is promised to no one!

But Memento mori has another level of reflection that goes beyond a subtle twist on the Carpe Diem mantra.  It is a reminder than when the wind is at our back and we are on top of the world, we are all headed to the same ending.  Stay humble. Stay grounded.  We never know when winter is coming.

And couldn’t we all use a dose of Memento mori in our own lives.

Are We Satisfied With Our Legacy?

In our work lives, we all need urgency and grounding.  How often does our to-do list slip until the next day?  If the customer needs to be called today, tomorrow should never exist.  And what about our latest idea for a new business or a tweak to our existing strategy?  It’s time to share with the world while we are still part of it!  And the promise to increase our effort and focus?  What if today were our last day on earth?  When we reflect on our performance, would we be satisfied with our legacy?

And if we are executing on all cylinders, crushing our numbers, and conquering all aspects of our career, we still have to remember to stay humble.  We don’t need to apologize for our success.  And we should be proud.  But we also have to keep our egos in check.  We are all mortal.  Plain and simple.  No amount of success can change that sobering fact.  Memento mori!

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Memento mori is even more critical in our personal lives.  Common advice for newly married couples is to never go to bed angry with your spouse.  Seems reasonable enough (but not always easy!)   But memento mori heightens the stakes and urgency.  What if our heads hit the pillow in a fight and we never wake up!  We need to think about our family, friends, and loved ones.  If we knew today were our last day, is there anything we would say to them?  Of course!  We love, we admire, we respect, we are proud.  Why wait to tell those closest to us how we feel?  Pick up the phone!  Burst into the room!  Send a text or e-mail if you must!  Live your life as if it is your last day.  You won’t regret it.

And if our relationships are pure, our communication is solid and our personal lives are harmonious, that is fantastic!  We need to take some time to reflect on our blessings.  And we need to humbly accept this could all change in an instant.  Smile tonight because nobody knows what tomorrow brings.  But Memento mori should not be viewed as a macabre exercise.  Rather, it is an opportunity to take a moment to celebrate and appreciate the beauty and fragility of the present!

Mail All Your Letters Today!

So, whatever happened to my letter to the literary agent?  Last night, I finally rooted through an old desk drawer, found a stamp and placed the package in the mailbox.  I have no idea what is in store for me tomorrow.  But I know the dream is out there in the universe and I have done everything I can do today to make it happen.  Isn’t that all we can ask for?

Don’t wait.  Find priority and meaning in your life today.  Memento mori!