How To Prepare For Death
by Chris Fritz
Last week, we talked about the paradoxical prison of pleasure. Today, I want to explore my favorite topic of all — living like a dead person.
As a human, it’s so ridiculously easy to die. All it takes is a slice of undercooked meat, a misplaced marble, or a moment of distracted driving to bring a permanent end to all of our future plans.
That’s why it’s so important to get our minds right and our priorities straight now, instead of later.
Death isn’t waiting on an invitation. It’s already on its way. There’s no time to fuck around.
I know it’s a cliche, but what would you do today if you knew you’d die in a tragic accident tomorrow?
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Who would you call to remind them that you love them?
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Who would you apologize to for some fucked up shit you said or did in the past?
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Who would you reach out to so that you could thank them for being a positive force in your life?
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What conflicts would you try to resolve?
Now for a follow-up question:
What the fuck are you waiting for?
Quote of the Week
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what's left and live it properly. What doesn't transmit light creates its own darkness.” — Marcus Aurelius
Focus And Forget
When many people realize that they are, in fact, going to die — and possibly soon — they freak the fuck out.
They realize that there are a lot of cool things they want to experience that they might not have time for, and they tip even further into a consumer mindset.
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They buy a badass car or “invest” in a fancy house
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They book a bunch of trips — “buy experiences not things, blah, blah, blah”
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They take a pottery class or schedule music lessons
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They update their Tinder bio and post some fresh new selfies on social
All of that shit is missing the point.
Like I said last week, most of the activities and stuff we chase are bullshit — they’re good things that distract us from great things.
So what are great things?
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Truth
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Courage
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Discipline
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Friendship
I call these “spiritual nutrients.” Without them, our physical and mental health will drain away until we feel bitter, empty, and lost.
Unfortunately, much like how we choose sugar over protein, we often choose bullshit pleasures over the stuff that will actually feed our souls.
Then, when we aren’t expecting it, we die.
That’s why the key to the good life — a life with maximum joy and minimal regrets — is to live like you’ve already died.
Treat each day like a bonus — a second chance to say “yes” to the right things and “no” to the wrong things.
It’s like that one song:
“‘You can’t kill a man who’s already dead.”
Question of the Week
What would you do if you were already dead? How would you act? What would you say no to?
Live On Purpose // Die Without Regrets
Each Wednesday, I publish a 3-5 minute newsletter + video podcast that applies ancient wisdom to modern life.
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