This was a tough read for me. Thinking about mortality for me is unproductive as it actually reduces my ability to do things that matter.<p>By ignoring the fact that there are only 8 magical experiences of Christmas, I can actually enjoy them more. Otherwise I become overwhelmed with anxiety about not using my time wisely enough.
Shortened version using <a href="http://smmry.com/" rel="nofollow">http://smmry.com/</a>, 56% reduction. (Because life is too short)<p>"Life is Short<p>Is life actually short, or are we really complaining about its finiteness? Would we be just as likely to feel life was short if we lived 10 times as long?<p>That gave me a way to answer the question, and the answer is that life actually is short.<p>It's not just a figure of speech to say that life is too short for something.<p>If you find yourself thinking that life is too short for something, you should try to eliminate it if you can.<p>When I ask myself what I've found life is too short for, the word that pops into my head is "Bullshit." I realize that answer is somewhat tautological.<p>It's almost the definition of bullshit that it's the stuff that life is too short for.<p>While some amount of bullshit is inevitably forced on you, the bullshit that sneaks into your life by tricking you is no one's fault but your own."
<i>Vita brevis,<p>ars longa,<p>occasio praeceps,<p>experimentum periculosum,<p>iudicium difficile.</i><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_longa,_vita_brevis" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_longa,_vita_brevis</a><p>Also<p><i>“I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
― Steve Jobs</i><p>Good to read this occasionally (and Paul's take is nice)
Along the same lines, I frequently read the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca's essay titled "On the Shortness of Life" (<a href="https://ia802605.us.archive.org/19/items/SenecaOnTheShortnessOfLife/Seneca%20on%20the%20Shortness%20of%20Life.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://ia802605.us.archive.org/19/items/SenecaOnTheShortnes...</a>) to come to terms with mortality.<p>It's a great read, as are all the Stoics, in this regard.
I think I've read this four or five times since Paul posted it in January. I'm not especially old, I don't have kids, and I suspect most of my life is ahead of me still, but <i>damn</i> does this one strike a chord with me. It's definitely one of his best.