No man can have a peaceful life who thinks too much about lengthening it
— Seneca
Forget everything else. Keep hold of this alone and remember it: Each one of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or is impossible to see
-Marcus Aurelius
It is best to look the reality of life straight in the face, with courage…
— From ‘How to be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to live a modern life’ P. 42
And that reality includes the fact that no one is immortal, no one is ‘ours’ in the sense that we are entitled to him or her. Understanding this is not just a way to maintain sanity when a loved one dies, or a dear friend leaves for another country. Facing this reality also reminds us to enjoy the company and love of our fellow humans as much as possible while we can, trying hard not to take them for granted, because it is certain that one day we and they will be gone and the only right ‘season’ for appreciating them will have passed. We always live hic et nunc — here and now.”