Someday You Will Die

“The value of life lies not in the length of days but in the use we make of them.” Michel de Montaigne

AI Happy Families

It is much easier to look back on one’s life and see what you have done right and what you wish you could have done differently. Looking forward to a future of your own making is not so clear cut. The dreams and positivity of youth have the potential to be realized. Life, however, can be a very bumpy journey. A fortunate few will sail through life like a Hallmark movie with a happy ending. The vast majority of humanity will have trials and tribulations travelling life’s highway.

Memento Mori

In a Big Think article, Stephen Johnson mentioned the triumphs of ancient Rome. Emperors and generals would parade through the grand city to celebrate their victories in battle. The conquering general would have a slave whisper in his ear occasionally, “memento mori.” Remember you will die. I wonder if the victorious Julius Ceasar had that whispered in his ear before Brutus and other senators stabbed him to death in the senate.

Make the Most of life

My marriage ended in my mid-thirties. The next 15 years there was emotional turmoil in my personal and spiritual life. They were not entirely wasted; I had some minor success in business and returned to study as an adult student. Personally, I could have made better use of those years.  I was denied the privilege of being a full-time dad. That role filled by someone else. In some ways I regret not starting another family.

I am Busier Than Ever

At the age of fifty I was fortunate to be introduced to someone who over time I became compatible with. Now in my early seventies my partner and I are busier than ever. We are both superannuants who pursue activities to supplement our income. Golf and exercise with a one-day-a-week courier run keeps me mentally alert and physically healthy. This blog is fun, it can chew up time researching a topic, then writing about it.

Life is Full

My life with my partner and children, all adults, is full. I have no desire to exit this mortal coil anytime soon. The longer I am here the more grateful I become with every day I am blessed to enjoy. Yes, someday I will die, with regrets, but mostly with gratitude for the time and place of my birth, for my family, and for the people I have met along the way.