Momento Mori is a Latin expression meaning "remember that you have to die". It is often used to describe items used as reminders. Like the skull in the picture. From my limited reading it seems to have fallen out of vogue after the 18th century, but before then it was a common theme of art, philosophy, and interior decorating.
In our 1st world western environment we are rarely exposed to death. We all are still going to die, but most people only experience death at the occasional funeral. And even then it is done up and beautified to the point that it is almost unrecognizable. I think memento mori is even more important now than in the days of the black plague and frequent wars.
We need reminders of our mortality. We need to remember that we have expiration dates and time is precious. We think we have the luxury of time, but even if we have decades treating it lightly will run it out filled with useless trivialities.
I turned 30 this year. I have lived a good portion of the first half of my life already. I do not think I have wasted it, but I have not accomplished many of the things I want to. So I cannot afford to sit back and forget the rapidly dwindling time I have left.
We only get one shot at this thing called life. Make it count.
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