I often think about death. Not in a negative or fearful or creepy way, but instead I think about death in a way that I believe helps me to live more fully in the present tense.
We all know that life is precious and life is short. We sometimes need a reminder, however, to reawaken us to the fragility and wonder of being alive.
Acquiring the wisdom to slow down, pause, and wait out the storm of a negative experience can change one’s perspective.
Last Thursday, my beloved Golden Retriever Ziggy died without intervention, in my arms, after struggling for just a few hours that day. He lived until the day he died. A good life. A good death.
He did not have to learn how to live moment to moment, and he was a teacher to me. Living day to day can sometimes be difficult, but staying present with our experiences will always enrich us. May we savor the in-between, the preciousness of living fully.
This quote from Margaret Atwood provides a beautiful summary:
“Sooner or later, you are going to die…how do you fill in the space between here and there? It’s yours. Seize your space.”