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Think About Your Death
…To Live a More Rewarding Life
During these cold, dark winter months in Yosemite I have thought more about my death than usual.
Perhaps it’s the two terrible sicknesses I’ve gotten over the past couple of months that made me think about the end.
Maybe it's the fact that where I live stays in the shadow of the mountain all day long and I haven’t gotten much sunlight for the past few months.
And maybe it's the fact that two people recently died from a rockfall very close to where I live…
Regardless of the reason, death has been a persistent theme in my thoughts… and instead of shying away from them like I sometimes do, I’ve been leaning into them instead.
Fear of death is the #1 fear of any living being. Our whole mind and body is designed to sustain life as long as possible. But we all know we will come to an end at some point and, in a way, there is comfort in that certainty.
And the shocking truth of this reality puts things into perspective for me.
For one, it makes me realize that quality of life matters much more than quantity of life to me. If every day is a rich tapestry of colors and feelings and experiences, it will be a life well lived.