How Thinking About Death Help Me To Live Better
What Will Be Written on Your Tombstone?
Sometimes, in moments of solitude, I find myself wandering through the landscape of my thoughts, contemplating the inevitable — death. What does it look like? What truly happens after this life? Where do we go, and in what form do we exist? These questions, though unsettling to some, serve as a powerful reminder of the ephemerality of life. They prompt me to reflect on how I live, how I treat others, and what legacy I will leave behind.
I have never witnessed someone dying, nor have I encountered a spirit returning to share secrets from the afterlife. Yet, the mystery of what comes next fascinates me deeply. I wonder: if we do go through this cycle, why do we still engage in evil? Why are we so determined to inflict harm on others? Why do we live as though we are immortal, as though death is an abstract concept meant only for others?
Even when we experience the loss of a loved one, it often does little to change our perception of life. We grieve, we mourn, but soon enough, we return to our usual ways — sometimes with even more recklessness, selfishness, and disregard for others. Why? Is it human nature, or is it simply that we fear facing our own mortality so much that we pretend it does not exist?
If we truly desire a peaceful, fulfilling, and compassionate life, we ought to think often about the legacy we will leave behind. We should frequently ask ourselves: What will be written on my tombstone? Those few words carved in stone will serve as a summary of how we lived. Will they speak of kindness, wisdom, and love? Or will they echo selfishness, greed, and cruelty?
Thinking about death should not be an exercise in fear. After all, we must all face it one day. Instead, it should be a tool for living more intentionally. It should push us to be more content, to cherish the moments we have, and to strive for a life filled with meaning.
To live well is to leave behind something greater than ourselves. It is to be remembered for the love we gave, the kindness we showed, and the impact we made. So let us live each day as though we are writing the inscription on our own tombstone — word by word, action by action, memory by memory.
Let it read not of regret and wasted time, but of a life fully embraced, a heart fully given, and a soul that truly mattered.
Because in the end, we are all just passing through. The question is: How will you be remembered?
