Live each day as if it was your last
[thoughts from ~burning woman~ by Sha'Tara]
In these times of "universal education" one thing can be said: there is an incredible proliferation of words. From those words come thousands upon thousands of cutesy sayings.
And predictably, here's one of those sayings, which I'm parroting from a plaque I have read: live each day as if it was your last.
So... perfect. So... romantic. So deeply shallow, it's practically convex in shape!
Like so many "New Agey" cute sayings, it actually means nothing at all, does it. At least, not if you think about it philosophically and logically. For one thing, my observation of people tells me that everyone actually does live his/her life as if it was their last yet remain blissfully unaware of the fact.
Why would I say that? Don't most people plan for some future, even if it's as banal as setting the alarm for the next morning? Some even plan for vacations. Some even go so far as planning for retirement, and not to be outdone, there are those who spend time and money on planning for their "eternity" - though without any clue as to what that entails.
And that's exactly the point: people do live their lives as if each day was their last because their so-called "plans" are so predictable, so in-tune with the aims of the Matrix that rules their lives. Each day is a repeat of the day before; except for the throw of the dice that may net one a car accident or a lottery win (and no one can claim these were "planned") nothing tangible changes from one day to the next: same old, same old until same dead, same dead.
Let's go back to the premise, "live each day as if it was your last" and try to put some meaning into it. First of all, what would it mean to be living one's last day on earth. Surely you can't live "this day as if it was your last" without having a clear picture of what you want your last day to be. Also, for that concept to be valid, that "last day" must be "here and now" in the midst of living one's normal, daily, routine life.
So, in the midst of the hustle and bustle and hullabaloo of life, what does it mean to live each day as if it was one's last? One has to decide if one's daily grind is suitable as one's last day. If it is, case closed. But I think that more is implied in that silly statement. I think that most people would want their last day to be significant, different, meaningful. You want to go out with a bang, not a whimper. Which must then mean that every day must be in the category of being significant, different, meaningful.
Well, I'm not other people. I'm me. I make the claim to be able to reason my own life; to be self-empowered; to decide how I live that life. Because a life of self-empowerment equates ever-change since it's about changing me, not my surroundings, being "me" is living with a stranger whose steps are increasingly difficult to keep up with. I tire me out trying to keep up to me. Unlike most Earthians I know I have no plans for "my" future since the life-book I'm reading is being written as I go along. There's a story behind me but ahead of me? All I see are blank pages waiting to be filled. Sure, I have some very clear ideas as to what should be written in those future pages, but I won't get to read it until I've done it.
But I do want to live each day as if it was my last. It's not a cutesy saying for me, it's my reality. It was said that one's reach should exceed one's grasp. What does one reach for on one's last day? When nothing is impossible (as I was taught) you reach for the impossible. So what happens at the end of that last day when your impossible remains impossible? Only this: that as sincere and honest (with yourself) you were at the beginning of your day, that is how much satisfaction you get from realizing you spent that last day reaching for that impossible.
Would you like an example of my impossible? How about this: today I desire to be kind, caring, compassionate, giving. I want to lose myself in the needs of another, or of others. Everything else this last day on earth is subjugated to this passion. Yes, it is a passion. A passion to understand why I am here; what my purpose is.
Is it fair to set one's self up to such standards knowing how high the chances are of failure? Yes it is, as long as I hold this standard for myself only, not for anyone else; as long as whatever "success" I may gain in each last day I don't fall into the trap of using this as a yardstick with which to measure another's accomplishments. In other words, if this personal standard is entered into honestly, that is, humbly, then it will not become a tool of condemnation of others. This is not an official path, it is a personal choice that becomes a personal journey.
Besides, if it is sincerely lived as if it was my last day, I will know tomorrow morning when I wake up to this realization: that it's time to set off on the path again as if yesterday never happened. The road goes ever on. The fuel: desire, passion.
Now imagine this, that each new day (being your last day) begins charged with new and heightened passion of a kind not dependent on anyone else's performance or desires. Nor environment. Nor situation. Just you and your own choice.
Love ya!
Jane
didn't read the whole article..
but thanks to remind
Neerja