If Humans Had Expiration Dates, Would We Live Differently?
If you knew the exact day that you were going to die, how would you deal with that information?
I think about dying everyday, it is one of the blessings and curses of my chosen profession. Being a funeral director has added an interesting perspective to my life and overall I look at this point of view as a blessing. But like anyone else, there are times when I forget all the lessons that come with this perspective. I can easily get caught up with life’s fast pace and miss out on the purpose of why I am here. For me, that purpose is simple, love one another and enjoy life.
So, what would you do if you knew the date of your death? How would your relationships with your family and friends be affected? Would you start a bucket list? Enroll in yoga? Eat more twinkies?
Do you think it would raise your self-awareness about the value of each moment or would it lead you into depression or panic?
Here’s the good news: none of us know when this day will come and having anxiety over it doesn’t help anyone. But just because we don’t know when that day will come doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t set aside time to think about it.
I want to dare you to think about your death day.
Take a deep breath, I’m asking you to do this because I believe there are more benefits in thinking about it then you know.
Try this, the next time you wake up say to yourself, “This is it, my last day on earth – what should this day be like?” – I know you still have to go about your daily routine but how would that mindset change the day-to-day? If it was your last day at work or last meal with your family how would you want to walk out?
Here are the options as I see them, we can leave:
- Thankful or full of regret
- Happy or sad
- Open minded or closed off
- Mentor or captor
- In the Present or in the Past
- Courageous or Fearful
Our avoidance of death or even thinking about death is a unique trait to western society and it’s something I’m passionate about changing. If you look at most other cultures, death is understood and embraced as something to face and consider. We are missing great opportunities to live more fulfilling lives unless we take time to confront our own mortality and consider what legacy we want to leave behind. My encouragement to you is to stop living in fear or avoidance of dying, look at it in the eyes, know that you will meet someday and LIVE accordingly.
So, what would you do if you knew your death date?
*Neil will be speaking TOMORROW, Thursday, August 22nd in the evening at O’Connor Mortuary about what it looks like to plan out the legacy you want to leave behind. He will be joined by financial expert, Robert Trommler of Cooke Wealth Management. This is a one-of-a kind event that we don’t want you to miss.
Please join us for this free informational evening – all you have to do is show up! To learn more, click here.
49 Comments
If I knew my expiration date I would spend a lot more time with my family, I would write letters to loved ones and tell them how much they mean to me and document parts of my life that were meaningful to me in a journal. I would also see as much of the world as I could and do all of these I have put off because I “have a lot of life ahead of me”. Even though there are a ton of things I want to do that I haven’t I would still look back and know that I had a great life. Thank you for helping us put things in perspective! It is a good way to live.
Hi Jenn –
I am glad that you have so much love in your life! Life is so short we are blessed with what ever we have. I am glad to know you have had a great life and that there are more great things in store for you! Keep living with love.
“Live life to the fullest” seems to not be many peoples mantra now-a-days. Thank you for reminding us that the inevitable is coming, and that if we did have a time clock we would live much differently. I’m not going to take up yoga, though
Hi Michael – Never say never! An open heart is an open mind, you are to young to have a closed mind. I hope you know how much I enjoy being in your company. I am proud of you and how you care with compassion and with an open heart! Namaste!!!
Great post, Neil! I think about this often, every day as well. I think it’s important to do your best every day at whatever you’re doing, live in the moment. To be positive and a good influence to the people around you. Also to remind your friends and family as often as you can that you love and care about them. Smiling is great too!
Hi Shasta –
Thank you for your response! As you know I love seeing you, you are always smiling and positive, those are great leadership qualities that make me proud to be in your life. I am truly grateful to know you! Not many people can live with an open heart & an open mind, you do on a daily basis, you are incredible. XO
Thank you Neil for this great reminder…..A friend recently sent this to me and it says exactly how I feel about living each day to it’s fullest……A friend of mine opened his wife’s underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper-wrapped package: ‘This, – he said – isn’t any ordinary package.’ He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. ‘She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said: ‘Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion’. I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less. I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I understood that life
should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I use
crystal glasses every day… I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if
I feel like it. I don’t save my special perfume for special occasions; I use it
whenever I want to. T he words ‘Someday….’ and ‘ One Day…’ are fading away
from my dictionary. If it’s worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen
or do it now….
I don’t know what my friend’s wife would have done if she knew she wouldn’t be
there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her
relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I’d like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.
It’s these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had
come. Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is
promised to no-one.
Hi Sharon –
Thank you for your response! I love the insights that you have shared. I see you living your life to the fullest and you encourage me to do the same. I appreciate your role modeling it is contagious, you always have a smile on your face, with a positive attitude. I always enjoying see you when you walk in the room, you are a bright light that radiates.
Interesting Neil! I suppose it is being in this profession that makes you think about things like this. I think about it all the time and because of that, I have changed many things in my life and have become a better person for it. Unfortunately, our profession opens our eyes to the casualties of life, young and old and it is those things that have made me appreciate life to a grander scale. Great post!!
HI Joanna – Thank you for your reply! You have been a great example to me how someone can change. I see the greatness in you, you are so caring and compassionate. You keep moving towards the higher calling in life, serving others, caring for those around you and making a better world for all. I am truly grateful to be in your life, thank you for being YOU! XO