“What do you want to do when you grow up? This Friday night? When you graduate high school? When you finish college? When you retire?” There are among the most common questions we are asked by our family, friends, and acquaintances. But has anyone ever asked, “What do you want to do after you die?” Obviously it would be quite a strange thing to say. The transient nature of life is not discussed in our culture. In fact, many of people are not even conscious of it at all.
Some say that it is not worth it to dwell upon such a somber subject, but rather that we should enjoy the present, live life to the fullest, or adhere to some other cliché. More often, we simply lack the time to contemplate our limited time. Work, school, kids, bills, chores, and a multitude of other tangible realities are too important right now. But what is the purpose of our existence? To attend school, graduate college, work, have kids, retire, and then do as we please with the remaining twenty or so years, assuming an ideal longevity? It is a dilemma that has disconcerted humanity for centuries, if not millennia.
Memento Mori, by William Harnett
Think about the collective ideas and values society propagates through various media—television, radio, internet, print, among others—and how often we all access these sources. So much of it is concerned with the present; what Miley Cyrus ate for breakfast, the Obama family’s pet dog, everyone’s favorite celebrities and their entire life story. Essentially, the things that makes our culture what it is today. Why do we avoid talking about the great equalizer, the most fundamental and undeniable certainty of life: our mortality? It definitely should not be because of the uncomfortable and contentious nature of the topic.
Perhaps we do not want to think about it. Maybe we do not have time for it. Nevertheless, we should not forget the impermanence of life, nor should we let fear of that fact take control of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment