Memento Mori The interpretation of ‘Memento Mori’ can be an aspirational one. The expression in Latin, “Remember we are mortal,” is akin to “carpe diem,” a Latin phrase for “seize the day.” The awareness of our mortality naturally raises a question; so what do we do about it? We are often oblivious to the fact that our time in this world is limited. Especially when we were young, we never thought of its finitude. But to remember our mortality here and there gives us a prodding to live each and every day as if it is our last. We procrastinate, defer, and put off what we want to do, but we don’t know if we can get a chance to do it tomorrow. One thing we want to avoid at all cost is that when we are lying on our deathbed, we regret, thinking, “ I wish I have done that.” The unfulfilled love, places you wanted to visit, people you wanted to meet, a phone call that we should have made to someone we love…. it could be anything. “Memento Mori, remember we are mortal.” As part of the painting tradition, the “Memento Mori” painting is the physical and symbolic reminder of our mortality, and this transitoriness can be interpreted not only as the reason to seek the pleasure of a moment, but also the aspirational principle of living every day to the fullest. |
