When Death Comes
I was recently watching a friend of mine, Kristin Hallett, speaking about death and what it means to truly live. Kristin works with people exploring how they want to be remembered… whether that’s accompanying them on their way out, or working with someone who today wants to embrace living a life with no regrets.
During her talk she shared this quote:
“When death comes, may it find you alive.” ~ African Proverb
“May it find you alive.” Gosh, I had to sit with that one.
Let me ask you what I asked myself:
If death found you today, would it find you alive?
Wow. Consider that. How important is how you choose to spend a day? How important is a moment?
Well, really effing important when out of nowhere someone tells you your life is coming to an end.
So, let me be the bearer of bad news: You are going to die.
I know, I know. You’re here for inspiration. Stick with me. I’m the grim reaper who will help speak death into life.
Here’s the thing about your death: You might not know when. You might not know how. But death is certain.
What is not certain is what you do with this life.
Why waste it? Why do anything less than something miraculous? Why not become everything you’ve been waiting to become? Why not do the things you keep delaying? Why not have the conversations you keep running from?
What does it mean to be alive?
Alive, to me, means so much more than a beating heart. It means having vitality. It means feeling lit up. It means being done with the bullshit.
To come alive also means you must die, figuratively. Isn’t that crazy to thing about? That to choose aliveness one must let die what is holding them back.
But why don’t we let ourselves be lit up? Why do we tolerate the mundane and a life that just feels “meh”?
Maybe because we witnessed our parents doing that. Maybe it’s because of the culture we live in. Maybe it’s because of the messages we were taught about being “too big” or “too much” or “too loud.”
But there has to be a defining moment in your and I’s life where we look back and get to say, “That was it, that was the day everything changed. That was the day I chose life.”
Why not make it today?
I’m in. Are you?
And if you are, what would that demand you let go of? What would that demand you step into?
I would love to see your declarations in the comments 😀
Mark
While at Ojo Caliente this winter, on a freezing January day, my friend and I were standing on the edge of the cold plunge contemplating if we could get in. A beautiful older native woman walked by, flanked by her two daughters, and whispered "do it - you are alive". We jumped in and it has been my mantra from that moment forward, embracing this life, celebrating change, and acknowledging the gift of those words that literally brought me back into my being.
I went out to brunch the other day with a female friend & I think the unwritten rule is that it's an excuse to look all cute for girls+
I wore a green dress with flowers and a fascinator leftover from the Kentucky Derby.
I didn't want to wear it at first. I thought this is too much, too over the top. But, I wore it anyways. And the funny thing is, it attracted people to talking to me that were like, oh I love that fascinator. So thus, the vibe attracts your tribe became very true that day.
I think that's what it means to be alive. Doing the brave thing even when it's scary - no matter how big or small. Having courage to advocate for yourself. Speaking your truth.