The Aesthetic Life

"Your life is too short and you've important things to do."
--Epictetus

Do you imagine one's life passes before their eyes when they die? Perhaps it's true, but I've always wondered; do the cancer patients and the car wreck victims both experience the entirety of their lives? Does one need a monumentally unexpected side-swipe at 4pm on some idle Tuesday to elicit the instant replay function, or does a doctors prognosis of two weeks start an A&E version of the 8mm playing across multiple nights? Because I've been dying since I was about 4 years old. I remember the conversation, actually, and I think there's something to be said for going through life simultaneously acting in and watching one's own play.

If you're reading DW, you'll know I gave up smoking three weeks ago. I don't mind saying it was an impressive feat, though obviously this isn't my own laurels I'm resting on. Maybe I just got lucky this time, but I've been 100% on the wagon without a single "tide me over" puff. Some of my long and fast friends might recall I gave up smoking the night I graduated from Tulane, along with MBB and JMD. The problem was, I only gave up carrying a pack on me. I still bummed out at the bars, and when I couldn't, I was fairly miserable. But something clicked in my head over winter break.

To be fair, part of it was the self-ascribed hypocrisy at giving up my flesh eating practices yet still paying 5 bucks every day or two for some dangerous air. But there was something else in there; a lack of patients for time spent not enjoying life. Of course, a good smoke after a long day at work, in the middle of (and every fraction thereof) a 20 hour paper writing session, and after a good hearty meal...those were enjoyable times. But by "enjoying life", I mean getting the most out of it. I was just tired of not doing everything in my power to get to the important stuff.

The point of this post is two fold. First, I'm getting back to the roots of what I had years ago, of only taking on important, rewarding and fulfilling tasks. Afterall, we all need projects to keep us sane, right? And the second point is to say this; you're dying.

Eh, you never really expected me to end upbeat, anyways...

Namaste'.