“You Can Leave Life Right Now…. So, Live your Best Life...” – Memento Mori x Pura Vida
Too often we get caught up in the drama of our own life. The traumas one experiences as an individual, concerning friends and family and generationally, turn into baggage that we must unload and move past.
In previous blogs, we have spoken about various tools such as the Yamas and the Niyamas, our yoga practice, and our mediation practice that can assist in this process; tools that can help us in moving into higher frequencies, closer to witness consciousness and further away from Maya or the illusion/delusion created by our five senses.
However, there is another group of tools that are often overlooked but serve a great purpose in giving us the strength to move, the determination to stay strong, and the awareness of understanding how blessed we are to be spiritual beings having a human experience.
Slogans or Brand Mantras help drive home a message and create energy using a few words. Imagine the emotions that might arise around these brand slogans and the imagery that is sparked in your mind when you see or hear, “JUST DO IT.,” “The Ultimate Driving Machine”, “The Happiest Place on Earth”, “i’m lovin' it”, and “You’re in good hands.”
We’d like to introduce two 2-word sayings that come from cultures centuries apart but, when read collectively, embody our thought process on how precious our human life is and how important it is that we must live it to the fullest with love, light, and sincerity in our actions concerning ourselves and others.
- Memento Mori from the age of antiquity and the stoic philosophy
- Pura Vida from the people, culture, and energy of Costa Rica
Memento Mori
Memento Mori is a phrase from the time of antiquity and one that the Stoics, like Seneca, highlighted in various writings and philosophies taught and penned.
It is an anchor of stoicism and the teachings of that time and is timeless in its meaning. Memento Mori loosely translates to “You could leave life right now.” It is a reminder of the fragility of the human experience and that at any moment in time, death could be lurking around the corner.
One might say this is a somber thought, but it is not. Instead, it is reality and, more importantly, a reminder that we should never take our health and ability to love, live and experience this life for granted.
We are given this body to live our lives to the fullest and not to lament the hardships of what obstacles in life may present themselves, but rather to embrace these obstacles as growth experiences and ultimately to be grateful for the life we have and the path we are on because death can be around the corner at any moment.
Pura Vida
Pura Vida is a saying that embodies the people and culture of Costa Rica and loosely translates to pure life or simple life. But it is much more than that, as anyone who has visited Costa Rica can attest.
These two words symbolize life, mantras, and a state of being. They embody that no matter what is going on in life, you need to take a moment to smile at yourself, smile at others, and come from a center of love and gratitude.
The fact that we get to walk on this earth and experience all the emotions that come with being a human is a blessing, not a curse, and we must remove ourselves from the noise and negativity of current events and news to remind ourselves how blessed we are.
Through the duality of life, we become more appreciative of all the light that shines on us physically and spiritually. This, to us, is where these two ‘life slogans’ intersect.
It is in the cold and constant reminder of “Memento Mori” and the warmth and light of “Pura Vida” that we are reminded that at any moment of life, our fire can be extinguished. So, we must live our best life and make every moment count. Every moment is a moment to learn, to say I love you, to say thank you, and to practice gratitude, and these moments must be embraced as if it was our last, so we should live our best life and treat ourselves and others with kindness, love, and respect.
The fact that you are alive, breathing, and healthy is the ultimate blessing. Use your breath, energy, and frequencies wisely because they are precious and are a gift.
