If you're expecting a whimsical story about how We should take those trips we imagine we'd take! Fly to those exotic places! Jump out of airplanes! Climb Mount Everest! If you're expecting sweet and sentimental ideas about spending more time with the people we love or appreciating the small miracles in life, well for any of those things I can recommend a variety of movies and books; some really excellent ones too. In fact, I would be surprised if you couldn't do the same for me. There is a vast wealth of literature and theater on the subject as most people have asked the question "What would I do if I only had one more day/month/year to live?" Just as they've thought about what they would do if they won the lottery, or inherited millions. Or got stranded on a deserted Island.
We spend a great deal of time fantasizing about things that we never actually expect to happen. We don't really think we'll ever hit the big one or receive a letter in the mail about "Uncle Charlie" leaving a fortune to us in his will. We definitely don't believe that we're likely to survive a boat wreck or a plane crash and float on debris to an uninhabited place where no one can find us.
And we also don't seem to truly believe that we are going to die.
"Don't be silly dreemit, we know we're going to die!"
Do you? Are you certain of that? If you've ever asked yourself the question I posed in my title and answered it with fantasies unrealized and did not go out and realize these fantasies- then you may need to reconsider.
"Ha! Gotcha there dreemit, I have a bucket list and I've been checking it off!"
"That's great! But is it really because you know that death is hanging over your shoulder?"
I am not inside your head, so if you say Yes! then I'll take you at your word. But here's the thing..I too made a bucket list after asking myself this question, and I too have been checking it off. And had you questioned whether I truly understood I was going to depart this earth after the first, second, probably even third box I marked, I may have said "Of course, that's the point isn't it? I thought about the things I really wanted to do in this life and I'm doing them."
Don't get me wrong, figuring out the things you want to do in this life and then actually doing them is awesome. I think everyone should make a list of those things they want to experience and start checking off the boxes, (or just do those things as they occur to you, even better) just as I think everyone should ask themselves what they really want out of this life and do what they can to achieve it. But what I've recently realized is that doing the things we want to do and becoming who we want to become does not necessarily mean we comprehend that we are going to die, it only means that we figured out how we wanted to live. Which is excellent, but not what I mean to discuss in this post.
"Then what do you mean to discuss, dreemit?"
I want to tell you why it is I think that the majority of humankind does not seem to get that this place is temporary, that the time here is limited, that not only are we going to exit this plane- it could happen at any moment. We have lots of sayings like Here today Gone tomorrow, and intellectually people understand them. But they don't know them to be true.
I've made a habit of contemplating it regularly, but I still forget I'm going to die. And when I forget I get annoyed over petty nonsense, and sometimes even involved in it. But the larger issues of life I see quite clearly now. And when the majority of humankind starts realizing their death on a regular basis, perhaps they too will evolve past color and creed and race and sexuality, and we will see an end to hatred and violence and war.
If you are using phrases like White power and Black lives matter, you do not truly know you are going to die . If you are using the labels: Black, white, christian, jew, liberal, conservative, homosexual, heterosexual- then you do not truly know you are going to die. They are nothing more than letters formed into words that are used to cause division. And they have nothing to do with me. And to me they have nothing to do with you. And because of that I love you all. Because in this moment I comprehend my death, I know that I truly do love you all. You have no color or race or creed, you are simply spirits trapped in uniquely decorated costumes that we call bodies.
And maybe you'll never truly know that you are going to die, so you will continue making these distinctions and using these labels. You'll continue getting angry and having wars. And this is the part in a piece like this where people normally make a big point, hand on hip, head shaking in disapproval. Then perhaps say some really inspiring words that make people think for at least a minute or two after they've finished reading.
Note: If you truly know you are going to die you will have solved this game. If you don't, when we all get Home you will most likely suffer....huge amounts of razzing and victory dances. And you might have to do the game over until you too think it's utterly absurd that we fight wars over different colored costumes and 'my legend is better than your legend.'
I said I wasn't going to discuss the bit on doing the things we want to do and becoming who we want to become, and I'm not, but I am going to post my brother's song about it. Off his album 'experience' I give you Before it's too late
awesome work @dreemit
Why thank you. I didn't quite capture it the way I wanted to, if I were not on a deadline I would have shelved it and did some re-writing :)
Interesting way of getting to the end mental structure.
I don't really agree, but is not with the end point of your reasoning, it is with the structure that you put your life into. The box from inside which, you see your whole life.
I know when I am going to die. And I have been dead.
I do not have a bucket list. If I think of something I really want to do, I will go do it. I also have no self esteem.
Yes, this life is temporary, but you are not. And the structure of your life is that thing that you need most in your life will keep coming around again and again until you notice it and then solve it. It is good that you are noticing these distractions for what they really are.
However, since you are noticing them, you may want to work on them.
Racism is real. We are all racist. It has to do with the unknown and fear and the fact that race is the most easily recognized feature of another human. Each race thinks differently, just like men and women think differently. That creates misunderstandings, especially if you believe the nonsense that race is only skin deep and women and men are interchangeable. So, each of us need to recognize this. To look inside ourselves and notice the fear and deal with it. But, we must also know that with each new meeting, we may be meeting a bad person. Don't be racist, but do be discerning.
And you are very correct, that we are being fed propaganda. They are stuffing us with fear so that we won't live our lives. All of the wars are nothing but elaborate hoaxes played on the public. The Iraq war, the war on drugs, the war on poverty, the anti-war movement, "not my prexsident"...
All designed to waste your life.
be well
Actually my thoughts were not flowing smoothly tonight but I committed to the challenge30 so I decided to push it out anyway. I couldn't quite capture the idea that keeps teasing me. I have no idea what waits on the other side. Lots of fun theories, and I believe we are immortal spirits, but beyond that only conjecture. I disagree with everyone being racist, instead I would say we all live in boxes, and many do live in the racist box. I've smashed through many boxes in my life, always another box, just slightly larger. Yes, it's a dog and pony show, a circus. Lies upon lies. Doesn't waste my life, I have long since stopped worrying about what the blustering men and women in suits are doing :) If you want to read something of mine that I'm proud of, that did flow smoothly, I have a series on here called The Playground, reality in fiction.
I agree that the majority of people fear the unknown, it was once a box I lived in too. Discernment is not a problem, though stranger danger is another hoax in my opinion. I think 'bad' people are not in the majority, but unfortunately they seem to be in places of power quite often.
I put in a slight amendment because I don't think it's necessary to make lists and check off boxes. It is a good way to get you thinking about what you might regret not having done in this life if you find yourself in old age with a broken body however. Race being only skin deep is nonsense? If you mean different cultural and societal influences result in thinking a little differently, okay. But if you truly think physical features and color makes that difference, can't agree with that. Especially since being on steemit. I have a good friend here who recently told me that English was not his first language and it was a huge and delightful surprise. We have so many similar thoughts and ideas and ways of expressing ourselves he could be my brother. You may want to be careful of boxes yourself in that regard.
For most people the concept of death is unpleasant and challenging.
The moment you realize that you are going to die, the next question is "So why bother living if we are all going to die in the end anyway?"
Then the other question "What happens next?"
The one salient point that it too terrifying for people to contemplate and accept, is that there is no point!
You simply live as all other organisms live, and you die as all other organisms die. You have no special purpose just as a dolphin or a raccoon has no special purpose (otters may have special purpose, but that's a story for another day)
And when you die - what next?
Nothing. That's it, just.... nothing.
And that is too terrifying for people to conceptualize, so they invent all manner of afterlives to take away the fear they they will be nothing.
When I die, I will go out kicking and screaming, because i like being alive.
but once the race is run and I'm standing there with Death (and Binky) I'll look back on a life that was lived in joy and laughter, and spent helping people where and when I could.
I will be nothing. But the ripples I leave behind in the pond of life will continue.
So thanks @dreemit for prompting those contemplative thoughts ;-)
You're welcome! It's fascinating how many different beliefs there are about what happens when we die. My mother is certain Jesus will take her to heaven. You seem just as certain that you will cease to exist. I disagree with you both, LOL
You can't know until you go, but it's great fun to speculate. Right now I'm speculating that we are inside a VR game and my brother's best friend created it. (Seriously deranged sense of humor on that one, HA!) I feel a story coming on called God's name is Joe ;)
P.S. I have no fear of the unknown, to me the mystery only adds to the adventure. But ceasing to exist is kind of morbid. You may as well at least entertain the notion that there's something else, it's much more fun
Beautiful work, admirable flowing words with naturalness, thank you dear friend @dreemit for spreading these magnificent materials.
It always makes me happy to receive your words of encouragement my treasured friend @jlufer :)
This is such a thought-provoking piece, and one that many people should ponder on. You scripted it so entertainingly that one can't help but continue reading. Death is such a tricky concept to wrap your head around, but keeping in mind that we only have a limited lease on life really puts things in perspective. No minute should ever be put to waste!
I appreciate your raw, honest writing. I too have thought a lot about our human nature to cling to insignificant labels, in an attempt to make sense of the time we do have. The power of words also blows my mind. The things we say and names we call people have this profound impact that is beyond my understanding.