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The fear of death follows from the fear of life.
A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.
Death fascinates me. I’m not so scared of dying (although, I’d prefer to stick around for a while longer). What concerns me most is what will be written on that darn tombstone, etched forever, of how I chose to live this precious life.
As a former critical care nurse, I’ve been around death . . . a lot. I saw too many people die with regrets. Countries never visited. Books never written. Dances never danced. Words never spoken. Kisses never given. Photographs never taken. Vitality never created. Dreams never fulfilled. Life never fully lived.
I’m not one to be a Debby Downer, but here’s what I’ve come to learn: all those things you say you want to be, do and experience will be a huge regret if you keep putting off, waiting and making excuses.
Perhaps, if we’d embrace the universal fact that life is short and then we die, we’d create a new relationship with our own mortality — one that would encourage us to book that trip, take the risk, wear the bikini, go scuba diving, and most importantly, savor the present moment.
One of my favorite places in Paris is Père Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th arrondisement. There’s something extremely mysterious and romantic about walking through the maze of tombstones and hanging out with the dead.
It causes me to stop and ask myself: how do I want to live my life and be remembered?
So, in the spirit of life and death, I’ve curated some inspiring (and some clever) epitaphs to hopefully inspire you to think about your own:
Emily Dickinson
Called back.
Mel Blanc (the legendary voice of Porky Pig)
“That’s All Folks”: Man of 1000 Voices, Beloved Father and Husband
Winston Churchill
“I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is ready for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.”
Virginia Woolf
Against you I will fling myself unvanquished and unyielding, O Death!
Dr. Martin Luther King
“Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty I’m free at last.”
Ludolph van Ceulen
“3.14159265358979323846264338327950”
Jim Morrison
Truth to your own spirit.
Osho
Never born, Never died: visited the planet earth between December 11, 1931 and, January 19, 1990.
George Bernard Shaw
“I knew if I stayed around long enough, something like this would happen”
Frank Sinatra
“The best is yet to come.”
Quniaron Bellthing
“Well this was fun, let’s dit again sometime.”
So, in the famous words of Mary Oliver, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
What would you love your epitaph to read?
Mine’s simple: She French Kissed Life and Life Kissed Her Back!
Your turn! Share in the comments below!
With Life,
Tonya
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Love it Natalie!
Do it because you love it.
Good stuff Karlene!
She died while fully living
Beautiful Dianne!
hmmm.... I'll need to narrow it down.
Don't come in, I look awful!
Be back at noon.
Look behind you.
This space reserved. VIP only.
But honestly, I'm hoping for a pyramid versus a headstone.
Love your sense of humor Mel!
I vote #4, but #1, 2 and 3 cracked me up!
My epitaph will read:
She loved...she lived, bravely, sweetly, passionately. regretting nothing.
Like a rose unfolding its petals to the sun of life.
Until God saw her and all the beauty she gave to this world,
and added her to His garden.
Thanks so much for blogging about death--very brave! It is a topic that people really seem to prefer to avoid, but the only sure thing is that exactly because we are blessed with breath, that one day we won't anymore. I don't know about my epitaph yet, but it is a really great question. thank you!
My epitaph would read: "She believed that the world was beautiful, and that poetry, like bread, was for everyone."
There's been a mistake...
Let me out of here!
"Unindicted Co-conspirator"
"She is Life-Challenged"