Smartloving: Remember your death

Francine and Byron Pirola suggest that the upcoming feasts of All Saints on November 1 and All Souls on November 2 serve as an invitation to practice memento mori, or remembering one's death. They write that contemplating death is not intended to be morbid but is a way to live more wisely.

The authors note that the month of November provides a season for remembrance and for considering the afterlife. They state that beliefs regarding eternity and what follows death influence how a person lives in the present. They observe that modern culture often prioritizes extending life or improving quality of life through diet and medical treatments, but they suggest that religious reflection offers a different perspective on how to approach mortality.