Mortal You Are...Don't Forget!

It's day 192 of documenting 2025.

Happy Friday!

Well, over here the day is almost over...

Currently typing by 9:31pm Nigerian time.

And I'll say, today wasn't so bad 😏

I finally decided to see Dora today.

Her house is a few miles from my house...and when I saw her missed call, I left to see her...on impulse.

Didn't think it through tho....as I got a serious scolding from my dad because I didn't take my phone with me.

It was worth it.

Conversations about....stuff, really helped me feel less alone 😌

It made me realize the message I want to share in today's post.

Memento Mori.

Before I explain what it is, let's do Highlights...and then some lessons from Marcus Aurelius.

Ready to dive in?

365 Days With Self-discipline 

📌 On Being in It for the Long Term 

"Tests compared new musicians who saw themselves as in it for the long term, versus just trying it. 

With the same amount of practice, the long-term-commitment group outperformed the short-term-commitment group by 400 percent. 

The long-term-commitment group, with a mere twenty minutes of weekly practice, progressed faster than the short-termers who practiced for an hour and a half. When long-term commitment combined with high levels of practice, skills skyrocketed."

Quote by Daniel Coyle

There’s something about long-term commitment that makes it immensely more powerful than doing something once-off, even when the amount of time spent practicing is the same in both cases.

What matters is not putting in the same number of hours every now and then, but putting in time consistently, even if it’s a small amount of time. 

In other words, the winning strategy is that of a marathoner, running long distances slowly, and not that of a sprinter, running short distances quickly.

Are your goals designed in such a way that you’re working on them regularly or are you doing them from time to time, in an erratic fashion? 

How can you develop a system that will ensure that each day or each week you practice for a set period of time?

Hmm 🤔 

Questions I need to ask myself.

And I'll probably find the answer somewhere within that jumbled mind of mine.

Don't worry, I'll figure it out.

Up next!

Meditations 

📌 Book 4 

13. You have a mind?

—Yes.

Well, why not use it? Isn’t that all you want—for it to do its job?

14. You have functioned as a part of something; you will vanish into

what produced you.

Or be restored, rather.

To the logos from which all things spring.

By being changed.

15. Many lumps of incense on the same altar. One crumbles now, one later, but it makes no difference.

16. Now they see you as a beast, a monkey. But in a week they’ll think you’re a god—if you rediscover your beliefs and honor the logos.

17. Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you’re alive and able—be good.

18. The tranquillity that comes when you stop caring what they say. Or think, or do. 

Only what you do. (Is this fair? Is this the right thing to do?) < . . . > not to be distracted by their darkness. To run straight for the finish line, unswerving.

So, these lessons were not so understandable. I had a little help with the interpretation.

The short version this time.

Here's what it looks like...

13. "You have a mind? Use it."  

Marcus is reminding us of our greatest tool; reason. If we have a mind, then our highest duty is to use it wisely, not let it sit idle or be ruled by emotions or external pressures.

14. "You will vanish into what produced you."

Here he’s referring to nature or the divine logos (universal reason). Life is cyclical. When we die, we return to the source that gave us life. 

It's not loss; it’s restoration. A comforting reminder of continuity, not just an end.

15. "Many lumps of incense on the same altar." 

A metaphor for death: we all burn out at different times, but we serve the same purpose and return to the same source. The timing doesn’t matter; what matters is offering your essence fully.

16. "They see you as a beast now, a god tomorrow."

Public opinion is unstable. Don’t let praise or mockery define you. Rediscover your principles, and live according to the truth, not the crowd’s mood.

17. "Don’t live like you have endless time." 

Mortality is your wake-up call. Since death can come at any moment, your only true task is to 'be good'...now.

18. "Tranquillity comes when you stop caring what they say."

Peace begins when you stop chasing approval. The only voice you must answer to is your conscience. 

Focus on what’s fair, right, and true..'your own finish line'.

🔑 Key Lessons:

- Use your mind. It’s your greatest power.

- Life is impermanent. Live with purpose and calm.

- Let go of public opinion; it changes.

- Mortality should inspire urgency in goodness.

- Inner peace comes from self-accountability, not external validation.

That's all for Meditations.

Now, about Memento Mori....

I heard it in a video few days back...and decided to ask what it meant.

Turns out, it's Latin.

Arnold said:

"Memento Mori" is Latin for "Remember you must die" or simply "Remember death."

It’s not meant to be morbid; it's a philosophical reminder to live intentionally. 

By remembering that life is finite, you’re encouraged to:

- focus on what truly matters,  

- act with purpose,  

- and let go of trivial worries or ego-driven pursuits.

It’s about 'living more fully' because you’re aware it won’t last forever.

That sunk in....real deep.

Memento Mori.

What do you think of the stoic concept?

Share your thoughts in the comments...and remember, you can be anonymous 😉

That would be all for today's post.

The day is almost over..but whatever.

As long as I publish once, regardless of when I do...the streak is still alive 🔥 

Thank you for reading.

I'm Duon Ada.

I'm documenting 2025,

And I'll see you tomorrow.

Ciao 💕