From our newsletter Outside the Lines

“Since death is certain…

I’ve had three recent reminders of death, both unexpected and expected…

Pompeii is a town frozen in time. Mt Vesuvius erupted almost 2000 years ago and covered it in volcanic ash. Last week, in between enjoying Sorrentine pizza, Caprese salad and generally “carpe diem-ing”, I got to wander around the site.

Amongst roofless houses and faded murals I came across plaster casts of figures, frozen in the suddenness of their death.

I found this stunning set of photos of people just before and after their death, with their brave and poignant reflections.

And today as I write this, it’s 40 years since Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

“… and the time of death is uncertain…”

Thomas Hardy said that while we celebrate our birthdays every year, another date passes by without recognition: the anniversary of our death. I’ve been wondering what would be different if we knew that date, if we knew when we would die.

Perhaps it would make no difference at all - this article makes for stunning reading about how difficult it is to change even in the face of death.

But what I’d hope is that it would keep the call to do Great Work more urgent, more front of mind … and to help focus the answer to the question: “What’s the most important thing?”

“…what is the most important thing?

“What’s the most important thing”… this is one of the great coaching questions. And I’ll get back to it.

Because before I can get there, I need to get my head around Time.

(Death. Time. Clearly this is one of those Big Issues newsletters).

In The Clock of the Long Now: Time and Responsibility, Stewart Brand talks about two different types of time: Kairos (opportunity or the propitious moment) and Chronos (eternal or ongoing time). “Kairos,” Brand says, “is the time of cleverness, chronos the time of wisdom.” Part of the perspective of the Long Now is a move beyond just “now” (”this week, slightly haunted by the ghost of last week”) and the Long Now (10,000 years forward and 10,000 years back from where we stand today). You can see what they mean here.

That shift in thinking about what’s my span of time influences my answer to “What’s the most important thing”. Look at the four questions below and see if your answers shift at all:

Thinking about today, what’s the most important thing?

Thinking about the next twelve months, what’s the most important thing for you to do today?

Thinking about the next decade, what’s the most important thing for you to do today?

Thinking about the next hundred years, what’s the most important thing to do today?

So can you cheat death? Well, probably not. And even if you could, you might face the miserable existence of the Strulbrugs in Gulliver’s Travels, beings with immortality but without eternal youth. But you can use the reminder of death to sweeten your life today.

Spark Action!

1. Answer this: If you had 10 years left and $20 million dollars, what would you do? And what would you stop doing?

(I’ve borrowed this question from this article by Jim Collins. You can see my answer and post your own here

2. Read this article on the Manifesto of Insignificance, and let me know what you’d add by leaving a comment on the blog.

3. Decide What’s the most important thing for you today.

Don’t take my word for it

Smart folks thinking out loud about death.

“Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?”
- Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun

“Cast a cold eye
On life, on death.
Horseman, pass by!
-Y.B. Yeats, Irish poet

“Don’t be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.”
- Bertholt Brecht, German playwright

“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.”
- source unknown (attributed to both ancient Sanskrit and Native American saying)

“Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honours depend upon heaven.”
- Confucius, Chinese philosopher

“Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.”
- George Carlin, American comedian

“Birth was the death of him.”
- Samuel Beckett, Irish author

“I got well by talking. Death could not get a word in edgewise, grew discouraged, and traveled on.”
- Louise Erdrich, Native American author

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