So I was listening to this song, I hate to admit it but I can’t remember who it was. There was a line in the song that deeply disturbed me. She (was it Jordon Sparks?) sang “live each second as if it was my last one.” I’ve heard of “Carpe Diem” and “live each day as if it were your last.” If you were to live each second as if it were your last, you would ruin your life. I think it’s possible to plan your life as if you could die tomorrow, but you should live each moment as if you were immortal.
Let me be clear, I am not good at this, but I have advice. Do as I say, not as I do.
(FYI: it was Jordon Sparks in “Tattoo” XM Radio Rocks.)
It’s a fine line between when you die and when you are immortal. In my humble opinion, you are immortal when you live in the moment. That is the only immortality you get. Each second is precious when spent with someone you love… or anyone for that matter. I’ve always wanted to ask a stranger, “what’s your one story.” You know what I mean right? Your one story is that story you tell to all of your friends a hundred times. It’s that one perfect moment you had, or missed. It’s that one defining moment where you made the wrong decision and blew it. We all have that story. Most of us have more than one. My point is if you could spend 5 minutes really listening to a stranger tell his or her defining moment, TRULY LISTENING, totally in the moment, you are immortal for 5 minutes. Most of us spend the moments we have in the past or in the future and in our own heads. I think about how precious it would be to learn of another’s past and to give them that moment of immortality as well. That would really be something.
Speaking of immortality, my Sifu always says the following line (and he’s said it enough it stuck): It’s funny how many people who are searching for everlasting life, can’t figure out what to do next Saturday.
I heard some one say that meditating is listening to God. I disagree; I think prayer should be listening to God; your life’s actions should be talking to God. Meditation should be sitting comfortably in the same room with God quiet in His (or Her) presence. God should be like a good friend who can just come over and spend time with you without inventing something to do. Still, meditation isn’t spending moments in past or future, it is being in the moment. So you are immortal at this time too. Of course with meditation, you have to live with the company and I think a lot of people have a hard time with that.
Anyway, my point is, if you want to plan your day as if it was your last on the planet, awesome. But when it comes to the tick tick tick of the clock, the moments you spend with your wife, parent, girlfriend, friend, or even yourself, live that moment as if you are immortal. Treasure it as if it was the only second you have. Savor it as if it was a delicious feast, then move to the next moment and do the same, never rushing to the next moment. Welcome to immortality.
