"To begin depriving death of its greatest advantage over us, let us adopt a way clean contrary to that common one let us deprive life of the fear of death."

Imagine you’re sitting in a cozy coffee shop, sipping on your favorite drink, and your friend drops this deep thought on you. The core idea here isn't as complicated as it sounds. It's basically saying that instead of living in constant fear of death, which steals so much joy from our lives, we should flip the script. By embracing life fully and not obsessing over the inevitable end, we rob death of its power over us.

This kind of thinking has roots way back in history. The philosopher Michel de Montaigne wrote about it in the 16th century—times were pretty grim back then with plagues and wars, so death was constantly on people's minds. Montaigne’s idea was revolutionary. He suggested that by accepting death as a natural part of life and not something to dread every waking moment, we could actually live more vibrant, fulfilling lives.

Think about this in a real-life context. Take Steve Jobs, for instance. He’s a great example of someone who lived by this philosophy. Jobs often talked about how his awareness of death motivated him to live every day to the fullest and focus on what truly mattered. When he was diagnosed with cancer, instead of letting fear paralyze him, he continued to innovate and create, leaving a lasting legacy.

Now, how can you take this wisdom and run with it? Start by acknowledging that death is a part of life. It’s scary, but it's also the thing that makes our time here precious. Try to shift your mindset. Instead of worrying about when and how it’ll happen, think about what you’d regret if it did happen tomorrow. Use that as a guide to prioritize what’s important to you. Maybe it’s spending more time with loved ones, traveling, or finally starting that passion project you've been putting off.

Let me tell you a little story. Picture a woman named Sarah, who worked a high-stress job in finance. She was always anxious, clocking long hours, constantly worried about her future. One day, she lost a close friend unexpectedly. It was a wake-up call. She realized how much time she wasted worrying about the future instead of living in the present. So, she made some changes. She started taking dance classes, something she always wanted to do but never "had time" for. She reconnected with old friends, traveled more, and even found joy in small things, like reading a book in the park. Sarah didn’t quit her job, but she made sure it no longer dominated her life. She lived with a new sense of purpose and happiness, not because she ignored the reality of death, but because she accepted it and let it guide her to what truly mattered.

So, next time you catch yourself spiraling into a dark place worrying about the end, try this: take a deep breath and shift your focus back to the now. What can you do today that brings you joy, that makes you feel alive? Don’t let the fear of death steal your zest for life. Instead, let the knowledge that our time is finite inspire you to live boldly and passionately. Because in the end, it's not about how long we live, but how well we live.