Lifespan

Throughout our lives,

Time is moving continuously forward.

And with every moment,

Whether we're aware of it or not,

We're moving closer towards the end.

Histoic philosopher Seneca wrote,

We are not given a short life,

But we make it short.

We are not ill-supplied,

But wasteful of it.

Life is long if you know how to use it.

Now imagine your own lifespan,

From the moment you were born until the moment you die.

Do you have any sense of what that timeframe might look like?

Where are you at today?

Are you close to the beginning or near the end?

Maybe it's somewhere in the middle.

For this contemplation,

Simply take a moment to consider all of the time that has passed from the moment you were born until today.

What memories stand out?

What choices did you make along the way?

And now consider all of the time still to occur as you look from this moment towards the future.

Consider all of the memories yet to be created,

All of the meals yet to enjoy,

And all of the choices you still get to make.

Each day we live is one day less of our time on this planet.

But with greater awareness of our lifespan,

The remaining days can begin to feel more meaningful,

More alive.

And before we leave you,

A few more things to consider.

When your lifespan is up,

What might be left unsaid?

What were you able to accomplish in your time on this earth?

And when you're ready,

Coming back into this moment,

Using this contemplation to rest in awareness that you are here and alive.