- Let's say that you have acknowledged your own mortality.
- Let's say that you've accepted your own mortality.
- Let's say that you've even embraced your mortality and consider yourself a "mortal" rather than an "immortal".
How do you keep from slipping back into the "World of the Immortals"? I'll be the first to admit that it is difficult to remain mindful of the present and resist the siren song of those who tell you that there will always be MORE TIME. Western society is currently stacked against those of us who have taken the Mortality Manifesto Pledge. Some days it is hard to "Enjoy NOW".
So how do we hang on to our newfound Power of Mortality?
Well, reading these weekly Mindful Moments is a good place to start. Actually, let me clarify that. Reading and really thinking about these weekly Mindful Moments is a good place to start. (Did you know you can read nearly two and a half years of past issues here?)
It also helps if you've got a copy of your expiry date in a place where you can see it on a regular basis. You don't need to go as far as I did and tattoo it on your shoulder, but you should have it somewhere that you'll see it at least two or three times a day. (If you don't have a copy of your expiry date - I provide you with one at the end of my book.)
But what else can you and I be doing to actively live the Power of Mortality?
I would like to propose that we establish a monthly ritual. Think of it as "Mortality Memorial Day". While the American holiday of Memorial Day only happens once a year, we need to observe Mortality Memorial Day much more often than that.
So let's agree that we will observe Mortality Memorial Day once a month. Sound good?
Now, what day of the month should it be? Why the END of the month, of course!
For many people, the end of the month is filled with frantic thoughts about bill payments, rent and mortgage payments, sales quotas, and other "manmade" deadlines. When was the last time you paused at the end of the month and were simply grateful that you lived to see the last day of the month? We need to realize and acknowledge that there was absolutely no guarantee that we were ever going to see the end of this month.
So here are the guidelines for our new ritual. We probably all have a wall calendar somewhere. As we turn that calendar from October to November I want us to do four things:
1. Look at the month of October and reflect on how fortunate it was that we were alive to see all that it had to offer (the good and the "bad").
2. Turn the page.
3. Look at the month of November and ask ourselves: "I wonder how much of this month I'll get to experience?"
4. Then START LIVING like it's our last month!
ENJOY NOW!
