We are currently living in a fast-paced world. We quickly hop on trends but leave with no satisfaction. We seem to be in a rush or in a race and have forgotten how to live a more meaningful life. Days quickly turn into weeks, weeks turns into months, time flies by and yet we create no memorable experiences for ourselves. When was the last time you climbed the top of a mountain or just watched the sun rise? Or the last time you had a deep conversation with your parents? If you can’t recall any, then perhaps we might try to reflect on Mahatma Gandhi`s quote “Live as if you were to die tomorrow learn as if you were to live forever”.
Where Does The Quote Come From?
Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, published a book in 1995 called “The good boatman: A portrait of Gandhi”. In the book, Rajmohan stated that his grandfather’s daily life was subscribed to the view that a man should live thinking he might die tomorrow but learn as if he would live forever. Perhaps, this is the closest source we can refer to.
Moreover, there are other variants of the quote that predates the aforementioned book’s attribution of the quote to Gandhi. For one, Isidore of Seville’s Etymologiae (etymological encyclopedia produced by Isidore the archbishop of Seville) 560-636 states that; “Study as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were to die tomorrow.”
Another similar quote was from the book Zerstreute Blätterv published in 1785 written by German philosopher Johann Gottried Herder. The quote was written in German but can be translated as: “Man, enjoy your life as if you were to depart tomorrow; spare your life as if you were to linger here forever.”
Who was GANDHI
To recap from the previous post, Mohandas Karmachand Gandhi or widely known as Mahatma or “Great-Souled” Gandhi was an Indian lawyer born in 1869. He pioneered a peaceful revolution that freed his home country India from British rule. The Nobel Peace Prize organization considered Gandhi as the strongest symbol of non-violence in the 20th century.
Gandhi was the youngest child in his family. His father was a chief minister while his mother was a devout Hindu. Such religious belief acknowledges the importance of non-violence and tolerance between religious groups. Thus, it was Gandhi’s mother that influenced his peace-loving nature as well as his desire to serve others first and above all.
What is the meaning of the quote?
The first part of the quote goes “live as if you were to die tomorrow”. This reminds us of the song Live Like You Were Dying in 2004 by Tim McGraw which actually won several awards. The song was about this person in his 40s who was diagnosed of cancer. But when he was asked how it hit him when he got the news, that person just recalled of the moments he knew was worth doing – skydiving, loving deeper, and giving forgiveness. And these are the things we can do to make us live like we are dying.
The second part, “learn as if you were to live forever” implies that the importance of learning is infinite. We must always assume that learning new things is beneficial at any point of our lives. And we must remember that no knowledge is ever wasted it is only accumulated.
Living with a sense of urgency
Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying Pope Paul VI
As they say, death comes like a thief in the night. When the covid 19 pandemic occurred, we suddenly realized how fleeting our time on earth is. Many of us have woken up to the fact that their workplace does not really value them and that they can do better. Others have realized that their marriages were not as glamorous as they thought, their spouses were just roommates with similar financial goals, if you had few years to live would you really like to spend them in a passionless marriage?. But now that things are getting back to normal, we need to some degree maintain the habit of living with a bit of urgency otherwise we will slowly go back to succumbing to the uneventful existence until our days are over. Here are some habits you can consider practicing to avoid such fate:
- Be time conscious
- Be daring
- Be grateful
- Be passionate
- Keep learning
It doesn’t only mean being concerned about tardiness but rather, it’s about spending your time effectively. Spend time with people that you dearly love. Have deep and silly conversations with your family. Travel with your closest friends to places you have never been before. Make memories that you would love to look back when you grow old. Life is short make use of it while you can.
One reason why we fail to live our life to the fullest is fear. Give yourself a chance by doing something daring. Skydiving? Solo trips? Striking a conversation with a stranger. The only way we can defeat fear is by facing it.
Being able to wake up in the morning is something we should be thankful of first and foremost. Learn to say “Thank You” constantly and consistently no matter the circumstance. The mere fact that you are still alive is already a gift in it of itself.
Always keep doing activities that you are interested in. Is it a book reading club? The gym enthusiasts? Or maybe a community service? Devote time to hobbies you enjoy.
Knowledge and experience are the two crucial things that will improve your life. When we have something new to learn, we are setting up ourselves for greater opportunities. However, try to prioritize the areas of expertise you want to explore more. Once you have decided on what new things to learn, then waste no time and;
1. Find a class.
2. Find a mentor or coach.
3. Find a mentee.
No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire.” L. Frank Baum