Memento Mori

I used to think this meant a remembrance of the dead, but turns out that is an admonition to remember that one is mortal. Don Juan tells Castaneda that Death is an "Ally," and that one should always keep in mind that Death is constantly at arm's reach, behind one's left shoulder if I recall correctly. That a constantly maintained awareness of impermanence can serve a useful and spiritual purpose I have no doubt. Indeed it is a central tenet at the core of Buddhist wisdom that nothing lasts forever except, well, Nothing. It's just that I don't do a good job of remembering Life's ephemeral nature. We spend so much time trying to hold on, it doesn't occur to us that nothing can truly be held for any length of time.