Death Is Waitin’, as Time Keeps on Slippin’

[DISCLAIMER]

Within my blog, I often write about death (the permanent cessation of physical and mental processes in an organism). This is because my approach to mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) incorporates existentialism into its foundation.

Per one source, “Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual’s struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence.” With my practice, I explore both purpose and meaning.

Purpose is something set up as an end to be attained (i.e., by intent). Per one source, “Purpose is an abiding intention to achieve a long-term goal that is both personally meaningful and makes a positive mark on the world. It is part of the topic of intentionality and goal-seeking behavior.”

Meaning is both the thing one intends to convey, especially by language, and something that has significant quality (i.e., achieved or retained value). Per one source, “[M]eaning ‘is a relationship between two sorts of things: signs and the kinds of things they intend, express, or signify.”

Whereas purpose relates to what one intentionally does (e.g., progress toward a goal), meaning is the relationship between one’s effort and success with a goal (e.g., satisfaction upon completion). Thus, purpose is what one does, and meaning is worth derived from fulfilment of one’s purpose.

Noteworthy, the American Psychological Association states, “Various forms of existential psychology have taken up the task of providing explanations, understandings of human behavior, and therapies based on existentialist assumptions about human existence.”

Aside from purpose and meaning, a core fact that I convey to others when professionally practicing mental health care regards truth of death. For example, consider time (the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues).

As an aside, I once purchased the Steve Miller Band album Greatest Hits 1974–78 (1978) that contained the song “Fly Like an Eagle” which was originally featured on the album Fly Like an Eagle (1976). Lyrics include, “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.”

Time in this moment is understood to slip (to move with a smooth sliding motion) into a future movement. No matter what occurred in a past moment, time “keeps o slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future” moment that has yet to arrive. That is, unless you die! Then, your moments stop.

From an existentialist frame, I seek purpose as a matter of establishing meaning before my moments stop. Now, for some people, it may be useful to engage in caricaturizing death as an actual entity.

Therefore, one source states that the “Grim Reaper is a popular personification of death in Western culture in the form of a hooded skeletal figure wearing a black robe and carrying a scythe.” Sometimes, this characterization of death is featured with a clock.

The purpose of this depiction is to signify that time “keeps o slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future,” as the meaning of this personification of Death is to invite people to consider that death is inevitable. I now think of the subject at hand, in this moment, as I read a book.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who stated, “Keep death and exile before your eyes each day, along with everything that seems terrible—by doing so, you’ll never have a base thought nor will you have excessive desire” (page 367). Thus, I think of death daily!

Of this, the authors state, “Political winds could change in an instant, depriving you of the most basic freedoms you take for granted. Or, no matter who you are or how safely you’ve lived your life, there’s someone out there who would rob and kill you for a couple dollars” (page 367).

Intentionally caricaturizing the matter, death is waitin’, as time keeps on slippin’. You aren’t guaranteed a long life! The same is true of everyone with whom you’ve ever had contact, as well as everyone that you will ever meet. Regarding death, authors of The Daily Stoic add (page 367):

As it’s written in the timeless Epic of Gilgamesh:

“Man is snapped off like a reed in the canebrake!

The comely young man, the pretty young woman—

All too soon in their prime Death abducts them!”

Have you ever heard someone say something as absurd as, “He’s gone before his time,” or, “She’s gone too soon”? The slippage of time doesn’t adhere to the irrational beliefs which fuel these expressions. Tautologically, we die when we die! That’s just as it empirically should be!

In closing, authors of The Daily Stoic state, “Death is not the only unexpected interruption we might face—our plans can be dashed to pieces by a million things. Today might be a bit more pleasant if you ignore those possibilities, but at what cost?” (page 367).

With my approach to care for mental health, incorporating both existentialism and Stoicism, I acknowledge objective reality. The past and future moments have purpose and meaning only to the extent that you recognize how you may perish in this moment. You won’t live forever!

After all, again making use of intentional caricaturization, death is waitin’, as time keeps on slippin’. That’s what makes this moment so valuable. Now, what will you do with this information? As is heard in the introduction to “Fly Like an Eagle,” tick, tock, tick tock…

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit (edited), Designed by Magnific, fair use

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