Thoughts on mortality
When I was a child I was immortal. I could not comprehend the thought of death. Mine or anyone else’s.
By the time I reached early teens I had come across death. My Grandparents.
Now I was still immortal, but others weren’t.
In my late teens I joined the army and I was still immortal. Nothing could touch me. I could survive anything.
When we started losing mates, who also claimed to be as immortal as me, I began to wonder. Was I as immortal as I thought?
By my mid 20’s I had begun to wonder if it was really possible that a situation could occur that I, perhaps, could not survive. Belfast, a few other places and The Falklands confirmed this for me in spades. I most definitely was mortal.
As children we cannot comprehend death. As we get older, and boy am I old now compared to that 10 year old immortal that I used to be, we realise it will come to us all. Death that is.
We go through several stages in our lives. From total denial, to wondering, to grudging acceptance and finally to the realisation that it comes to us all.
How you live your life after you realise that you are mortal depends on your mind set. You can be so very careful. Take great care. Don’t drink or smoke. Eat healthily. And you know what? You will still snuff it eventually. Actually you don’t live longer if you do all that. It just seems like it.
So my philosophy is this. Enjoy every second. Live life to the max. Don’t arrive in the afterlife (assuming you believe in one, which I don’t) as a well preserved dead person. I recommend sliding through the gates as a raddled wreck. A ciggy in one hand and a bottle of scotch in the other, screaming “God what a ride”!
In short? Go for it! Grab every single moment of pleasure and happiness you can and revel in the time you have.
Simplistic? Perhaps, but it works for me and I highly recommend it to all.
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What a fabulous blog way, you described the ride so well. A raddled wreck I intend to be lol.
Every moment we have is a blessing and since I learn’t we are not bullet proof, everything has a heightened sense of beauty be it my hubbies dear face, my little dog, my friends, my work, nature, everything.
Live, love, laugh, do what you enjoy doing, oh I am going to move my happy hour from 5.00pm to whenever I like!!! Thanks way xxx
So much brighter and more wonderful? Yes! You understand.
Go for it girl!
A wonderful blog Way and it has taken me years to realise that we are none of us immortal.I intend to enjoy my life to the full as the saying goes…You are a long time dead.
Thank you Way
Ah, lady. It’s not the death, but the fond memories you take with you. Make them now, for now is all the time we may have.
Wonderful blog, Way! Yes, life should be enjoyed every moment of every day. So many things to do, people to love. I am even more aware of this, since I have a child I am still raising….I appreciate every single moment in time, and make it a point to laugh every single day, love every day, live life to it’s fullest every day. Life is a treasured gift.
Great blog way – I laugh a lot that keeps me going. One of my friends loves me because of the way I laugh a lot – we have shared many laughs and I love her and my other wonderful friends dearly. Friends make our life worthwhile – really true friends that is. And, of course, my gorgeous dog – I thank God for her every day.
I’m not afraid of dying, just anxious about the way it will happen. xoxox
I’ve learned over the years that life is a precious gift not to be wasted and it’s always good to have friends reminding you along the way. I value everyone’s friendship here. It means so much to me. Thank you for the blog, Way.
I remember, the day my father died, asking his doctor why my father had died at a comparatively young age (he was 67) when he’d lived an abstemious life, had never smoked, drunk alcohol, exercised regularly, avoided fatty foods and should, by all accounts, have lived to a ripe old age?
The doctor replied “The day you die is programmed into your genes at birth. You can hurry the process by smoking heavily, drinking too much booze, and living a sedentary life, so if your father hadn’t lived an abstemious life and hadn’t looked after himself, chances are he would’ve died at the age of 55 instead of 67.”
That makes sense to me – sorry Way! But I do agree with living life to the fullest and knowing that every day of living is a gift.
From one rattled wreck to another. What color was that car that ran me over? Someday we’ll share a drink wherever we go!!! I smoke Marlboro what’s your poison!!
18 year old single malt scotch please. don’t bother with a glass. just leave the bottle, lol