+1: #850 Aurelius on Death

You're listening to Optimize with Brian Johnson. More wisdom in less time. Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. In our last plus one, we reflected on the idea that little and big oopses provide us with opportunities to appreciate that we're still alive as we practice gratitude that that something much worse didn't happen. At least that didn't happen was our mantra. For me, when I broke my arm, I was grateful I didn't break my neck. When I tripped and nearly fell the other day, I was grateful I had an abdominal strain and not a trip back to the ER for my arm. Now whenever I think of this reframing exercise, I think of a dear friend of mine we lost in a tragic speed flying accident. One of the most beautiful, inspiring, energized people I've ever met. Went out for a flight off a mountain. He jumped off countless times. Wings didn't open the way they should have. Bam. Gone. Now I often think how grateful he would be if he had just broken an arm or even his neck. Then I alchemized that pain into a virtual fist bump and hugged for his daimon and recommit to savoring this one precious life of ours. All of which makes me think of our stoic philosopher friends for multiple reasons. Today we'll chat about their thoughts on death. We actually already talked about one of their practices in our +1 on rehearsing your death. Check that one out. In that one, as you may recall, Seneca tells us, rehearse death. To say this is to tell a person to rehearse his freedom. A person who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave. Now, today we'll talk about what Marcus Aurelius has to say. Here's how he puts it. I quote again, were you to live 3,000 years or even 30,000, remember that the sole life which a man can lose is that which he is living at the moment, and furthermore, that he can have no other life except the one he loses. This means that the longest life and the shortest amount to the same thing. For the passing minute is every man's equal possession. But what has once gone by is not ours. Aurelius also tells us, I quote again, take it that you have died today and your life story is ended. And henceforward, regard what future time may be given you as an uncovenanted surplus and live it out in harmony with nature. That's one way to think about it. Huh? And that's today's plus one. If you feel so inspired, let's actually do the exercise. Imagine this. You just died. Sad face. Bam, you're gone. And you got the good fortune to come back. Starting right now. Okay, now let's see if we can live with a fresh appreciation that every moment is a gift. Here's to appreciating the uncovenanted surplus of moments today. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Optimize with Brian Johnson. To find out more, come go to Optimize Me.