You’re Being Watched, Part 1
This will probably become a long series of posts, so I’m going to begin simply, with a quote and question to think about:
…someone looks down on each of us in difficult hours–a friend, a wife, somebody alive or dead, or a God–and he would not expect us to disappoint him. He would hope to find us suffering proudly–not miserably–knowing how to die.
–Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Now for the question:
Is knowing how to die any different from knowing how to live?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Dying honorably is accepting the fact of one’s mortality. Living is accepting the fact you will die and living each day with that in mind.
You don’t always have a choice on how to die, though in a sense we’re all dying everyday. Knowing how to live, however, is a choice we make for ourselves daily. Many pay no mind, whereas others savor the flavors of each day. Its the moments and so many don’t know what they’re missing…
I’ve done a lot of suffering in my life, much more it in the miserable manner. We always have the choice to think of something in a different light. And that new perspective can make all the difference. Taking time to reflect can prepare one for these hard times. But, what do we consider hard times?
I see your bolded statement as being true.
Fear of dying can be seen as fear of not having lived. If you know your time is up and you look back on your life with regret it means you have not lived. If you know how to die, then would it be right to assume that you would not fear death? And by not fearing death it means you have lived a life you do not regret .
I find this similar to Paulo Coelho’s answer to “what would you like written on your tombstone?” His answer: Paulo Coehlo died while he was still alive.
I interpret that quote as saying he lived each day to the fullest and died doing so. Time was not wasted. By knowing how to live he knew how to die.
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