“Memento Mori”: An Important Message For People In The Modern Era Explained In A Short Film Called…
We live life without reflecting on a particular truth that is the starkest truth of all. As we live our daily lives, we’re immersed in our…
We live life without reflecting on a particular truth that is the starkest truth of all. As we live our daily lives, we’re immersed in our work and spending time pursuing our goals and other pursuits, often forgetting that our time here on Earth is limited.
We go through life, through its peaks and crevices of flowing with our emotions, thoughts and experiences, without understanding how valuable each single day can be.
“Memento Mori”, is a Latin term that means “Remember that you are going to die.”
It’s an old term that goes back to ancient Greece and ancient Rome which is a stark reminder that we could all use in this modern era at the turn of the new decade.
As touched upon in this article in the publication Daily Stoic:
“It is reminders like this one that we desperately need in our own lives — a thought or an idea that we’d rather ignore, do everything to avoid and pretend is not true. Most often, our ego runs away from anything that reminds us of the reality that sits at odds with the comfortable narrative we have build for ourselves. Or, we are simply petrified to look at life’s facts as they are. And there is one simple fact that most of us are utterly scared to meditate, reflect on and face head on: We are going to die. Everyone around us is going to die.
Such reminders and exercises take part of Memento Mori — the ancient practice of reflection on mortality that goes back to Socrates, who said that the proper practice of philosophy is “about nothing else but dying and being dead.” In early Buddhist texts, a prominent term is ‘maraṇasati’, which translates as ‘remember death.’ Some Sufis have been called the “people of the graves,” because of their practice of frequenting graveyards to ponder on death and one’s mortality.”
To us moderns this sounds like an awful idea. Who wants to think about death? But what if instead of being scared and unwilling to embrace this truth we did the opposite? What if reflecting and meditating on that fact was a simple key to living life to the fullest? Or that it was the key to our freedom…..”
To reflect on the fact that we are mortal is essential & hugely relevant because we can then make the most of every moment and every day.
Our time is limited and that time is all we have. It could end at any moment.
Some waste it on monetary pursuits, like working a job they hate or dislike, simply for financial gain, some waste it on chasing fame, some waste it on chasing power and glory, some waste it on living for popularity(like on social media), other people, (like some people I know) waste it on feelings like envy, hatred, that they let consume them, while some waste it on simply wasting their time and whiling it away, without knowing how precious it is.
Although it’s something we often forget, and don’t reflect on enough, time is our most valuable resource and what we do with that time is everything.
Yes, financial stability is important, but do you really want to have lived a life that is going to end at any moment trading in your time for something that you don’t want to do or just for the money?
When you look back on your life in your old age, do you really want to remember a life lived on someone else’s terms rather than your own?
When you’re older all you have left are the memories and stories of your life to reflect on, do you really want to look back on them in regret?
Our stories are fundamental to a life of meaning. As I’ve explained in an older article of mine called: Beyond Happiness: The Four Pillars Of Leading A Meaningful Life
If I go on, I could write a book about this, but I’d rather avoid that for now. Much like the renowned journalist Hunter S. Thompson wrote when he advised his friend Hume Logan on the subject of finding meaning in a letter.
Our livelihood and work should be a direct byproduct of our passions and interests. Our daily work should be in the fields we love and in areas where we want to explore and feed our curiosity and intelligence, which resounds with us.
For me it’s Music, Football & Writing. And it’s in these three fields that I dedicate my life’s work to.
We all need to find our calling and pursue it diligently. However, we must, as Buddhist philosophy says, to live in the moment, in the ‘now’, and make the most out of our time.
We also need to spend more time with our loved ones and with family, or in finding love, and a home, which is something that is at the core of every human being’s desires and nature.
We only live once, so it’s imperative to do the things you love.
A Short Film I Composed Called ‘The Lost Piano’ Centered Around ‘Memento Mori’
A beautiful, enchanting and haunting short film, which explores and is centered around this subject, is this particular film made by Westwood Instruments as part of their film scoring competition towards the end of 2021.
It’s got a profound message and well written script that is something to reflect upon along with great cinematography, which makes for a compelling watch.
I entered the competition earlier this month in the beginning of December and made this score for it in a few days time.
As I’ve mentioned in the description on YouTube:
For this score, I had to flex my piano playing muscles and come up with interesting and emotional, and compelling piano motifs to complement the footage. I used violins, a bit of cellos and orchestral brass, and other orchestral elements in certain instances but as was necessary considering the film was called “The Lost Piano” and its shots, I had to make sure the footage revolved primarily around the piano. There were also light ambient pads which were mainly orchestral-centric and evolving. I was deeply moved by this #shortfilm and thoroughly enjoyed my time scoring this.
It holds the important message “Remember to live before you die”
So remember to “Keep Going”
