Countdown ဖြင့်နေထိုင်ကြည့်ခြင်း
I heard this thought-provoking idea from a friend about a decade ago. I can’t recall the exact words now, but I believe it went something like, “As we focus on the days we assume we have left, we tend to forget the day we will inevitably leave this world.”
I have been reflecting on this for the past few days; the more I think about it, the more I find myself realising, like many others, that I don’t think much about death in my everyday life. And like many others, I also take tomorrow for granted. This, of course, goes without saying how much I love to fill my days with endless plans—places to go, people to meet, things to do—as if each tomorrow is fully guaranteed.
I suppose it doesn’t matter which side of the world you live on or what religion you practise; talking about death rarely comes up in daily conversations. Moreover, in some cultures, I reckon even mentioning death can be considered “taboo,” thought to bring misfortune, bad luck, or even ruin an auspicious day.
Exactly two weeks ago, I met my family for dinner, and death unexpectedly became the dinner topic. I was surprised to learn that Dad wants a burial, while I wish for cremation. Mum stayed silent, perhaps finding the discussion uncomfortable. It seems that even within families, talking about death can be difficult.
Anyway, it occurred to me to set a countdown for my last day. I have chosen the date: December 27th, 2059. Of course, I know I could die before then, and I am fully aware of the fine line between life and death and the many factors that influence our lifespan, such as diet, exercise, and so on. I’m also aware that my own habits are far from ideal: I eat poorly, rarely exercise, smoke, and drink. So yes, it’s likely I might go before that date, but I’m aiming optimistically—for a natural death, with no accidents involved.
The purpose of this countdown, or say experiment, is to remind myself each morning of how many days I have left. Knowing how limited my days are, I want myself to approach each one with intention. In doing so, I want to present myself with a choice each morning, whether I want to waste the day on meaningless distractions or do something meaningful for myself or the community I live in.
When I started this three days ago, I had 12,828 days. Today, the number reads 12,825 days 01 hour 36 minutes (as of now). The number will steadily decrease with every passing day, passing hour, passing minute, passing second. I reassure myself that I don’t want this countdown to be a source of fear or dread but rather a tool for purposeful living. I wish to use it as a friendly reminder that life is short, and each day is a blank slate, offering me an opportunity to make a difference, to be kind, to love myself and others a bit more, to laugh more, to live without regrets, to forgive, and to find joy and passion for each new day.
If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you'll be right. Every morning I looked in the mirror and asked myself: If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I do today?― Steve Jobs, I, Steve