11–20 of 196 posts
woe to the ones who live their life in fear
It could be middle age tainting my perspective... but sometimes I feel this sort of... not visceral, but very close and undeniable... experience with death is easier for people who are young.
Death isn't real for most people at 17, no matter how much they have seen, many see the death of a grandparent, or two, or perhaps even four, before reaching 17, but most still enter their late teens, feeling invincible and like death is a whole lifetime away... because on a sort of undeniable personal narrative level is is... it is a lifetime away... and things that feel a lifetime away are much easier to think about than things that feel like they get closer every year. In middle age you know your to some statistical average "about half way there"... and that's a very different place from which to begin having this kind of life experience.
"Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq ft - loneliness is the same" is quite profound.
Some really interesting stories and lessons.
People are different and so it makes sense that they'll handle death differently. Loneliness is a big problem. But I am surprised how often people fall for an anti-materialist view, yeah money's not everything, but I think its a privileged view to have. Its easy to say money is not important once you've made alot of it. I think its helpful to have some, but obv. spending all your time in its pursuit is a waste.
Nice vignettes but I don't really believe it. Not knocking those getting value out of them, but they don't work for me.
And the most important for me of all - gratitude. I’m finding that if I apply gratitude to thoughts and actions throughout the day, very little if anything can shake me now. It feels like a superhuman power. Motorist cuts me up… meh.. at least I’m not in a hurry like that guy. Grumpy because I had a bad night sleep… I’m thankful I had a warm bed and roof over my head and warm shower to jump in. Injured myself running… at least I have legs to run. The effect of the above on my life has been profound. My happiness levels are through the roof and I’m achieving and doing things I never thought possible as I’m not allowing negative emotions and thoughts any space in my life.
Not saying this will work for anyone else, but it does for me.
Why would I optimize my entire life for a few minutes at the end of it. That makes no sense at all.