Stop making life and death of the little things

In the worldwide phenomenon that is Game of Thrones, a truth emerges as the story unfolds: all of the infighting and petty squabbling among various lords and would-be kings is ultimately meaningless in the face of a broader danger that would seek to destroy all of them alike. 

Dark and ominous, it is spoken of in fairytales and most do not believe it to be real. But the oldest & wisest among the people see it clearly for what it is and try to warn the young, bold, and brash about its inevitability.

Some heed the call, others are more reluctant, but eventually all must face the reality of the situation at hand. And in the face of the overbearing, existential threat, enemies become allies and a light is shined upon those things that matter most, as all else is revealed to be of little consequence.

Now in the show, this threat is known as “the white walkers,” a mystical undead force, part zombie, part monster. We have no such undead army to worry about in our own lives. But there is another ominous threat, inevitably marching toward us, day after day.

Ignored by the many, but acknowledged by the few, the danger that comes for us is also uninterested in our wealth, our status, our looks, or our affiliations.  And while it can be delayed & fought off for a time, unlike the monsters of the show, it cannot be defeated. Because sooner or later, death comes for us all. All men must die.

Most spend their lives trying to pretend this is not the case. They spend half their energy convincing themselves this is not the reality, consciously or unconsciously.

They bury their heads in the sand, trying to forget this fact. They live for tomorrow, while putting off today. They keep talking of what they will do “someday” only to find that “someday” they are old and grey, if they are lucky enough for “someday” to come at all.

But what is the alternative? 

And what the hell does this have to do with “thinking clearer”?

I’m glad you asked.

By looking clear eyed at what is ahead, you gain the power to focus your mind on what really matters. All your worries, anxieties, self-consciousness & self-doubt: what do any of these matter in the face of our shared fate? 

Look that your priorities are in the right places. That you are focusing your energy on what actually matters. Stop making “life and death” of the little things, all the while ignoring life and death themselves. 

This does not mean to live like there is no tomorrow. For there probably is a tomorrow. The zombie horde tends to march slowly. And it’s no fun to await it sitting alone in the rain. 

So do what you need to do in the meantime to keep the wheels of the everyday turning. But don’t let yourself forget what’s waiting out there further down the road. 

Finally, whatever else you do, remember this truth: we live existence at the edge of all that is known, in a cabin at the edge of the woods, where the sun is setting, and we have no certainty if it will rise again. But in this experience, we are not alone. 

We are banded together with all who ever lived before us and all who will ever live after us. Staring into the fire, here at the edge of the world, laughter hits deeper, wine tastes sweeter, and every moment is imbued with everlasting meaning.

And if you look close enough, it’s here you will find your deliverance lies not in worrying about what’s to come, but in being thankful for the beauty & splendor of the life you have in the present moment. A present moment that never ends...