The Great Paradox: To Live A Better Life; Embrace The Certainty Of Your Death

“…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”  Benjamin Franklin “

…all living things have to die. … We all die, some of us sooner then later.” Georgia Lass

There are events in our lives that make us aware of our own mortality.  I have had three definitive instances in my lifetime that have done this.  Unfortunately, that was all those particular instances did — made me aware.

Most of us know that one day we are going to die.  As we have grown into adulthood we have lost loved ones and we reflect on their life and we take a moment, especially if someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly,  to realize that one day that will be us.  Sometimes we reflect for more than a moment, other times even less.  However long we reflect or pause, we move on and forward, but inside we may not genuinely believe that one day that will be us.

Our mortality is one of those intangibles in life because it is so hard to grasp.  We learn by experience, and while a brush with death, battling a life threatening illness or a near death experience may remind us that we are merely mortal, we may not actually accept the fact.

You see that is, in my opinion, the difference that really matters.  We can be aware that we will one day die, but we may not really in our hearts accept it.  For most of us we look at our deaths as something that may happen and if we concede the certainty, we cling to the belief that it is a day that is a long way off.

After my cardiac catheterization I went from being aware of, to accepting of my ultimate demise.  It was a moment that freed me of many of my worries and concerns.  To not only know, but genuinely, whole-heartedly accepted the one truth about life, my person was suddenly set free.

I have written about the detriments of negative energy in the past.  It was a concept that I was always well aware of, but until the moment of my mortality acceptance, it was more metaphysical than substantive. When I embraced my mortality, when I accepted that one day I will die — it was then that I fully began to live.

I no longer allow the, often times, real worries of daily living to impact my life.

I no longer allow the uncontrollable actions of others to dampen my joy of living.

I no longer complain, whine and chatter endlessly about the unimportant aspects of every day existence.

I do not love nor even like, the area in which I reside.  I don’t like the attitude of despair and hopelessness. I am not a fan of cold temperatures, icy roads, snow or any other aspect associated with winter in the Northeastern Untied States. However, right now at this moment in time, this is where I am.  I am here because of decisions that I made, so instead of bemoaning the aspects I don’t care for, I focus exclusively on the positives that are present.

Because I not only acknowledge and accept, but dare I say relish my mortality, I embrace the dawn of each and every new morning. When I go out for a jog in the sometimes very frigid morning air, I allow the briskness of the atmosphere to stimulate my senses. When the white precipitations falls from the sky, instead of grumbling about shoveling it, I look forward to the manual work I am physically capable of performing.

It is also about perspective:

• In the cold temperatures, I have a warm place to sleep.
• In tough financial times, I have a family to love me and a family for me to love.

I no longer put off enjoying my life.  I recently went to Southern California to visit my sister and nephews.  Money isn’t as free as it has been in the past.  For a very brief moment I thought I should not go.  I juggled some bills, put off others and made the trek west.  The boys will only be young for a brief period of time and I want to be part of it as often as I can.

Because living a fit life is living a better life I have been quoted as saying, “Eat and exercise as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow.”

I have a goal of changing my residence to a warmer climate, near the ocean and earning enough to unite my family in that one location, yet as I work and plan toward that goal, I accept, that for reasons beyond my control, my life may end before I get there so — I will not allow today to pass in hopes of a tomorrow that may never arrive.

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Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book,A Life Beyond Weight Loss.  He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcasting or television outlet. He has appeared onWYLN TV -35′s Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud, WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast.

Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his web site www.betterlifeseminars.com.

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************The posting that I  write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition.  I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.*************

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