Montaigne on Death

I’m reading Sarah Bakewell’s new biography of Montaigne. Wonderful format: she writes one question: How to live? And answers it in 20 essays giving glimpses into Montaigne’s life and writing and thinking.

A near death experience was a key to his life and thinking. He wrote:

“If you don’t know how to die don’t worry; Nature will tell you what to do on the spot, fully and adequately. She will do this job perfectly for you; don’t bother your head about it. Life is more difficult than death; instead of passive surrender, it takes attention and management. It can also be more painful.”

Don't Put Your Life on Hold

This is one I have to learn over and over again: don’t put my life on hold. Most of the time I can catch myself doing this in the big ways: “I’ll be happy when I get that job” or “My life will begin when he loves me”.

But there are smaller ways too: “I’ll be OK if I go to that workshop” or “If I can get my hair color right, then I’ll feel pulled together.”

The clue that I am “living on hold” that I have to listen for in myself is: “When I get or do (blank) then I’ll be or feel (blank).”

Probably the only exception is: “When I take an antibiotic, then I’ll feel better”. Otherwise I’m living on hold or waiting for something outside of me to make me happy.