It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had. ELISABETH KLUBER-ROSS
The temporary nature of our time on this planet has been in the front of my mind of late. It seems like almost once a week, someone of some importance to me or to someone I value is lost. More and more often, celebrities of personal significance are passing also. As I continue my cinema self-education through watching and reading, I find myself fascinated with the lives and times of the industries greatest artists of days gone by. I often feel saddened by my affection for these creative individuals whose light has extinguished. So many I hoped to speak with, perhaps even work with, no longer possible.
"The older I get the more things I gotta leave behind, that's life."
These words have resonated with me since I first heard them spoken by Rocky Balboa in 2006. There is no denying the truth in the former champion’s words. Whether you're 9 or 90, with each passing year, you are faced with loss. From a beloved security blanket or teddy bear, to your closest friends and family members. From the house you grew up in, to your shoes and undergarments with holes worn through. We spend much of our compassion and focus much of our love on those things no longer accessible.
At the same time, we are always collecting new things. We can easily replace our old worn out clothes and shoes with new ones. Through time and transition we may move away from our friends and colleagues, collecting new ones in our new surroundings. We even add family members through marriage, and sadly, sometimes subtract them in divorce.
As each and every cell in us and all living things will eventually die, new cells are in constant development to replace them during that lifespan. Leaves fall from the trees in autumn; bud, and are reborn in the spring. Grass turns brown and gray in winter, and grows back green and lush in the summer.
Life in the animal kingdom works differently than that of the plant kingdom.
When life power exits a body, no one truly knows what happens to that energy. It's been contemplated and defined by countless systems of belief since the dawn of man, but there's no true way to track the metamorphosis of a living soul. Does it jump into another life form in its earliest phase via "reincarnation"? Does it transfer to an eternal dimension commonly known as "the afterlife"? Perhaps as it slips from the body, your soul enters the earth and adds to the collective life energy of the planet, a sort of metaphysical fertilization.
I believe this pondering is the main source of grief when someone is lost. Most of us can eventually find a way to cope with the absence of that person from our own lives; the major challenge is the concept of where they've gone, and if we'll ever "meet again".
These unexpected passing’s that effect our lives are a constant reminder of the insecure nature of life on earth. With an average lifespan of less than 80 years, life is indeed fleeting. We are here for a while and then we're gone.
Habits and decisions we make have a huge impact on our earthly time lines. Many will argue that "you only live once" and you might as well enjoy yourself as best you can while you're here. Others strive to live as long as humanly possible via diet and exercise routines.
Yet there is no sure fire way to seal your fate.
All things are temporary, including life itself. Our b0dies will carry our souls for a short period of time in the vast expanse of human history. What happens next remains a mystery.
So live as if you'll die tomorrow, live as if you'll live forever, live as if your earthy impact will resonate after you're gone, live as if you're auditioning for the next phase, live and enjoy the ride.
LIVE.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. TECUMSEH
