After the crazy year I’ve had, the topic of “how we use our time” has been on my mind a lot. Recently a couple of tragically sad events have happened to friends that have, I think, reminded us all of the importance of living and loving. It’s so easy to take for granted the idea that we’ll have all the time in the world to do things, or to take for granted the every day things that are worth celebrating and falling in love with. Thinking about these things, I was reminded of some quotes from Seneca. I think it might be time to get a copy of “On The Shortness of Life” because I think at this point in my life it’ll be more impactful than ever before. Anyone have any thoughts on the writings of Seneca?
As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live Immediately.
-Seneca
Tony Caselli 
Have not read him…great quote. Having followed your journey and having the pleasure to work with you has been a gift. Dodging a bullet will get your attention and having done that myself reminds me every day of how lucky I am, I like the late Warren Zevon’s quote…”Enjoy EVERY sandwich.” Or Ram Dass…”Be Here NOW be there THEN. There is only NOW. Live. Learn Love. Celebrate every moment-angre is a road block-let it go.
“Our sense of ourselves is an illusion -we’re organs of a larger organism that knows us-even though we don’t know it. I’m a vessel of it
as is everyone. We’re just visiting, eh. Ok, I got carried away. Keep on Tony …all the best and if you ever get a chance to watch the film “The Freshman” with Brando doing a parody of his Godfather performance you will be in for a treat…a family film by the way…Old Man Daoust
“Enjoy every sandwich” is a GREAT quote! Thanks for sharing, Dave. I’ll try and Netflix “The Freshman” with the family one of these nights!
I need to get Seneca’s book too Tony.
Let me know if you do, David! 🙂
Tony, I did not go through the very difficult year you had to endure..Such an experience must alter your outlook greatly! I cannot compare the new perspectives in my life with your recent experiences, but it does seem to me that with each birthday I now receive an invisible gift: A book entitled “Time”…The first half is filled with all the yesterdays, all the family and friends and adventures of the past. Mid-way in the book is an act break of sorts: A pause where I can examine where I was when I was in my 40s, and where I had hoped to be at the age I am now.
The remainder of the tome is, like a good second act, a bit shorter. Sadly, I realize one of the reasons that the latter part of the book is shorter is because there are far fewer actors on the stage. I note, too, that many of the plans I once made were never realized. But, suddenly I am aware that there has been a change in the very pages of the book: They are softer to my touch, the writing is done with more deliberate care, and moments that once might have gone unnoticed, are now some of the lengthiest and most detailed. Emotions are deeper and joy more delicious. Page after page is ringed with gratitude. And I find I wish to linger longer on each page, taking my time to fully appreciate every moment!
You may ask if “everyday living” might not cause me to set this book aside from time to time? If in doing so, does my book ever close or flip back a few pages? Then am I not having to seek just where I left off? To again remind myself of the wisdom of living in the moment? Yes! Definitely!
But over time, I now tend to not loose my place quite so often.
Emily, thanks so much for your thoughts. I love the idea of looking at your life as a book – flipping back through the pages, your descriptions of it are just perfect!