Memento Vivere (remember to live); the complementary partner to “Memento Mori” (remember you (must) die).
It’s fucking great to be alive. No matter how shitty your life situation may be, being alive is certainly better than being dead.
Memento Vivere x Memento Mori
To me, I have been thinking about “memento vivere” as a prod, or a reminder… to live an ENGAGED, and ACTIVE life. It is a personal reminder to myself that I must be engaged in society, and not to live just for myself. It is a reminder for me to not just waste my time and life with mindless media and news, but for me to be an ACTIVE CREATOR— to make stuff (pictures, words, videos, etc).
Memento vivere is also a reminder for me to enter the “real world” whenever possible… not to just remain a hermit inside my own home.
Memento vivere is a good partner to “Carpe Diem”— Seize the Day! Each day is equal to every other day— meaning, what you do with today’s 24 hours is what counts. For most of us, at least 6-8 hours are consumed by sleep. For the rest of the remaining time— I think our actions is what defines us (not our lineage, or past). We are not our customs, heritage, or DNA— we are a culmination of the actions in our lives— the people we help, the art we make, and the real human beings we empower in our everyday lives, local communities, and online.
How to live more
Practical ideas：
- With practical decision-making in life… is that action you’re going to do help you LIVE MORE? Or live less?
- How do you personally define “living”? For me, it is spending time with my loved ones, it means exploring the world with my camera, and it means engaging with other humans, teaching, learning, and contributing to society.
- Consider photography as a tool to appreciate life more, and to LIVE MORE! I think photography is great, especially when we use photography as an excuse to get into the city, to get out of our house, to travel, to explore, to meet other photographers (in “real life”), and to be excited to make images.
So friend, us add the motto MEMENTO VIVERE! to our everyday lives.
BE STRONG,
ERIC
PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy: love of wisdom.
Philosophy
- Destroy in Order to CREATE
- Trust Your Body More Than Your Mind
- Make Photos to Make Meaning in Your Life
- Seek Knowledge, Not Information
- The Purpose of Human Life
- How to Overcome Impedence
- Why I Love Death
- How to Be Centered in the Eternal Now
- How to Be Happy
- Why Do You Care What Others Think of You?
- Why I’m Happy
- Why?
- Why I’m So Prolific
- How to Reduce LAG in Life
Personal Philosophy »
Stoicism »
- How to Be a Stoic Street Photographer
- How to Use Photography as Self-Therapy
- How to Free Your Soul From Disturbance
Zen Philosophy »
- How to Be a Zen Street Photographer
- Zen in the Art of Street Photography
- How to Find Tranquility in Your Photography
Life Lessons »
Learn more: Start Here >