top of page
Search

Enjoy This Brief Time We Have On Earth

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • Jul 19, 2025
  • 6 min read

 

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.

 

Do you ever stop to think about how you may be remembered after you die? I do. With hope, my memory will be short-lived, as are the passing moments of a sandcastle upon a beach. Regarding similar contemplation, authors of The Daily Stoic quote Marcus Aurelius who stated (page 71):

 

“Keep a list before your mind of those who burned with anger and resentment about something, of even the most renowned for success, misfortune, evil deeds, or any special distinction. Then ask yourself, how did that work out? Smoke and dust, the stuff of simple myth trying to be legend . . .”

 

Irrespective of what I hope, some people will likely remember me as one who “burned with anger and resentment.” They knew me by the monikers “Suicide-Psycho,” “Twist Off,” and “Tin Man.” For them, it’s my living desire (though not a demand) that my memory will be short-lived.

 

Likewise, some individuals will probably recall me as one who tried to help people. They knew me by the nickname “2-Nice.” For them, as well, may my memory be short-lived. I’d rather people move on with their lives and enjoy this brief time they have on Earth.

 

Therefore, I don’t want monuments, tattoos, gravestones, or any other stationary reminders of my life which serve as a stumbling block for the living. Although not entirely in alignment with this perspective, authors of The Daily Stoic state about the passing of life and memory (page 71):

 

In Marcus Aurelius’s writings, he constantly points out how the emperors who came before him were barely remembered just a few years later. To him, this was a reminder that no matter how much he conquered, no matter how much he inflicted his will on the world, it would be like building a castle in the sand—soon to be erased by the winds of time.

 

I expressed similar sentiment in a blogpost entitled Building Sandcastles. Ultimately, life is impermanent and uncertain. As appears to have been the case with Aurelius, I unconditionally accept this aspect of living and dying. How about you?

 

Are you the sort of person who irrationally believes that remembrances of sandcastles will somehow prolong your life, as though you in some way won’t experience death like the rest of humanity? If so, how much time do you devote to wasting the present moment in such a manner?

 

Focus on the afterlife, or how you’ll supposedly live on through the memory of others, may be robbing you of the time you have right now. Remarking on how some people frivolously spend their remaining moments in this way, authors of The Daily Stoic conclude (page 71):

 

The same goes for those driven to the heights of hate or anger or obsession or perfectionism. Marcus liked to point out that Alexander the Great—one of the most passionate and ambitious men who ever lived—was buried in the same ground as his mule driver.

 

Eventually, all of us will pass away and slowly be forgotten. We should enjoy this brief time we have on earth—not be enslaved to emotions that make us miserable and dissatisfied.

 

While I’ve acknowledged thinking about how I may be remembered after I die, I devote very little time to such consideration. This is because I’m alive right now. Why would I waste moments of the present on matters of the future over which I have no control and little influence?

 

The metaphorical beach upon which my sandcastle is built preceded me. When the waves of time wash over my life and memory, I’ll be no further ahead or behind than anyone else. Thus, I’ll try to enjoy this brief time I have on Earth, as I invite you to do the same.

 

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


 

References:

 

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2023, April 8). 2-Nice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/2-nice

Hollings, D. (2024, November 10). A great wall. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-great-wall

Hollings, D. (2025, January 31). Beef forever. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/beef-forever

Hollings, D. (2024, February 8). Building sandcastles. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/building-sandcastles

Hollings, D. (2022, May 17). Circle of concern. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/circle-of-concern

Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness

Hollings, D. (2024, October 21). Desire. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/desire

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, May 20). Evil. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/evil

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2025, March 5). Five major characteristics of four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/five-major-characteristics-of-four-major-irrational-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2022, August 24). Green with anger. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/green-with-anger

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2023, October 18). Hulk. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/hulk

Hollings, D. (2024, October 21). Impermanence and uncertainty. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/impermanence-and-uncertainty

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, June 17). On free will. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-free-will

Hollings, D. (2025, July 13). On passion. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-passion

Hollings, D. (2023, June 3). Perfect is the enemy of good. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/perfect-is-the-enemy-of-good

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, March 14). REBT and emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-and-emotions

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Recommendatory should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/recommendatory-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux

Hollings, D. (2024, November 23). Use of self. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/use-of-self

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Alexander the Great. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Marcus Aurelius. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday

Comments

© 2024 by Hollings Therapy, LLC 

bottom of page