Beware the Ides of March: Memento Mori: a thread of reflection

WARNING: THIS THREAD MAY BE LONG. If it ain't your cup of tea just spare me.

I made this thread, 13 years ago, on the Ides of March. Mostly joking.

The next thread I made was asking for prayers. Because I had lost my brother. And ever since then the Ides of March has hit me, hard. It was the last time I saw my brother. We messed with each other, teased as brothers do, gave each other a hard time. But, mercifully, the last thing I said to him before he drove away for the last time was, "I love you bubba."

And that's why memento mori hits so hard. Because, we are mortal. And sometimes that "goodbye" is gonna be the last goodbye you ever get.

Time has dulled the sting a bit. I still talk to him, like the crazy person I am, usually just to say. "I miss you bubba." Or "I wish you could see this."

Even though I know he does, some of you will understand. There is living in us, and living With us. And man does the latter hit different.

Because one day you are talking with a friend and making plans and all is right.
And the next you might be talking to his widow about the plans that now are gonna be missing a part.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is...baw, cherish every moment you get. Go on the trip you "don't have time for."

Last year around this time, a good buddy invited me to be part of the cook team for a big charity cookoff event. I was unemployed at the time, living off dwindling savings, selling plasma to make ends meet. I probably "couldn't afford it." But I went anyway. Made a great impression with the team, had an amazing time, made memories, made plans for next year...
That was the last time I ever saw my friend alive. He died in a freak accident in the fall.


We never know when the last time is gonna be.
I promise you, you'll make more money.

What no one has ever made is more time. It's borrowed, and even billionaires are beggars for it.

So make every goodbye good enough to be your last one. Live your life, take the chances, do all the things.

If you live scarce you will stay scared. Your fortunes can change on a whim. If you've fallen, get back up. If you are struggling, reach out for help.

There are people in this world you matter to.
And there are people in this world you might not matter to yet, but you will. And there are people not yet in this world you may matter to still.

But most of all you need to matter to YOU.

Because once you start to matter to yourself, once you start to believe in yourself and give yourself a chance...that's when change happens.

And just because he hates it, this one is for cocomo.

We all die, but to live?
It's to live 'til we're dead,
Best to dance, take a chance,
Than stay safe in your head.
So go there, see it,
Do it, buy it,
Change, rearrange,
While there's time left to try it

Thanks for your time.




TL;DR version
Tell people that matter to you how you feel while you can.
Don't give up when you are down, it gets better.
Better to risk and experience, than stay safe and stagnate.

Also,
Here's some boobs you degenerates.