“We must make haste then, not only because we are nearer daily to death but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first.”
Meditations – Emperor Marcus Aurelius
“Live while you may, die when you can’t do no better.” Elva Minnis (aunt)
Last month I celebrated my 51st year on this planet. Looking back, I am surprised by what I’ve achieved but also a little disappointed that more was not done. Knowing that other people have the same outlook regarding their successes and failures doesn’t make me feel better.
Emperor Marcus Aurelius hit on a most human problem, not only are we constantly moving to death itself but we are also losing the ability to do the things we want to do before we die. This presents a paradox to the human mind. If we dwell on death, we become paralyzed with fear and do nothing. If we forget it we waste time. Therefore, too much or too little thoughts on death is detrimental.
Are there any solutions to the paradox? How about a constant reminder delivered in small doses?
Death Clock
A little over a year ago I installed a Chrome extension named Death Clock . The extension is a simple countdown timer. Once you enter your date of birth the counter shows how much time you have left based on a 75-year lifespan. Each time you open a new tab in the Chrome browser, a nature scene appears overlayed by the remaining days, hours, minutes and seconds of your life and underneath a simple message, “Make them count!” Literally, you are able to watch your life tick away. Daily, you remember death.
The Death Clock app does not ask if you are male or female, have a chronic illness, have deadly habits like smoking or life-shortening behaviours such as texting while driving. You might have more, you may have less time than shown on your computer screen. As of this writing, I have more than 9,000 days left, which is plenty.
Bust of Marcus Aurelius. Wikimedia.org
Or is it?
In a 75 year lifespan, there is no shortage of milestones. Your first kiss, a baby’s first steps, first job, marriage, etc. The positive and happy milestones are what we celebrate but there are others less pleasant or not as noticeable. What about; the last time our mother lifted us up into her arms, the last time we played hopscotch or skipped rope, the last laugh with a friend who dies suddenly, the last kiss of a loved one, the last time to eat a favourite meal without indigestion, and the last time you make love? Long before the grave, the ability to do certain things will disappear.
To anyone reading this, these and other such moments lie in your past, or will inevitably happen in your future. It would be easy to miss any of them. Even worse are the many things that we want to do but fail to get done because we believe – falsely – that there will always be more time.
The Roman philosopher, Seneca noted, “It is not that our life is so short, it is that we waste so much of it.”
So, my ultimate lifehack app is a reminder of death. Can you think of any that can beat it? Leave an answer in the comments.
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