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We will all leave this world one day. It doesn't matter how we live, what we eat, whether we exercise, or whether we spend all day in front of the television, without thinking about anything else.
But perhaps what really matters is that we decide to do our best until then. Not that we can change the course of events, because that still belongs to the realm of science fiction.
Yesterday, I went to a wake. It was for an 88-year-old lady. And even though she lived a full life, she will certainly be missed by those who loved her.
Is this inevitability something we don't want to think about too much, and for that reason, every time we talk or think about death, there is a negative connotation on the part of society and most people?
Are the roots of our greatest fears so deep that we don't even dare to shed any light on them or think about them? As if, by magic, if we don't think about it, it won't happen, or it will happen but not “tomorrow”?
When someone dies, there is an immediate call to reality. As it is so sudden, we do not always believe that it is irreversible. It is hard to believe, hard for the “coin” to fall to the bottom and activate the mechanism.
Can meditating on our own death be beneficial? Many scientists say yes. In ancient cultures, such as Eastern cultures, and in particular in Buddhism, it is a common and deeply rooted practice.
Thinking about the end does not necessarily mean that we desire it. But it can help us to be better prepared for that event.
I think that whether or not we are believers should in no way change how we enjoy the time we have while we inhabit this perishable shell.
But the fact that we are certain that the day will come, without a doubt, should be more than enough reason for us to put many of life's things into perspective. Is it really important for me to get that promotion at work? Is it important, when I'm in traffic and some jerk cuts me off, to get upset and let myself be carried away by that momentary, corrosive anger? What's the point of worrying about something that, in five minutes, won't change my life at all?
Last week, as some of you know, I was in southwestern France, in a small village called Taizé. I was on a spiritual retreat. Just the simple fact that I didn't have easy access to television and internet, as I only had my cell phone, allowed me to limit myself to the essentials and reflect on my life. On how I want to give some meaning to my brief passage through this reality.
We have the opportunity to change the course of things a little. Instead of responding to an offense immediately, I am trying to first let what I heard, read, or watched settle a little, and only then, if there is really a need to respond. There is always the possibility of not responding to a provocation at all. And that may be our best weapon against those who want to provoke us.
We leave those who have offended us without the playground, without our harsh response, to have their dopamine rush. By remaining calm, we are simply reflecting the maturity we have developed up to that point. However, we cannot be suffering inside. None of that. It does us no good not to respond when we are boiling inside and cannot cool down. At that moment, it is important to control something as elementary and basic as our breathing. By doing so, we will lower our heart rate, and gradually, our unconscious response will not even appear.
And you, what is your biggest challenge? What do you fear most in this life?
Bem Hajam🍀
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