👣 Step 33: Memento Mori. Memento Vivere.

I've been grappling with this topic a lot the past few days, and I aimed to word it in the most loving, genuine, yet honest way possible. I hope it's helpful.

This past week has been a whirlwind of emotions in Lafayette.

Festival International’s 40th anniversary.

The senseless murder of a high school senior on her Senior Skip Day.

Renowned food critic Keith Lee visiting town and spurring new life into local businesses. Boosie showing love to the community.

A car wreck killing a beloved teacher.

My deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of those we lost. I hope they're surrounded by love and strength.

These events are horrible, tragic, and wildly sobering. They can feel jarring and emotionally dissonant. Happy to sad to happy to sad.

Even personally, I celebrated my birthday while mourning the fact that my grandfather isn't here to celebrate his birthday alongside me. That day - our birthday - will be emotionally dissonant for me for the rest of my life. Good and bad.

But we can always gain something, even from the worst times. We can always turn negatives into positives.

"Memento mori." Remember that you must die.

It sounds dark, but only if we make it so. I’d like to reframe it for this conversation.

Don’t remember death to be sad or afraid of it. Remember it to live more fully.

"Memento vivere." Remember to live.

This is the companion phrase to “memento mori” that tends to be forgotten. They were used when victorious Roman generals came back from battle to humble them and remind them of their humanity.

We're not guaranteed tomorrow.

You can control some of the ways you could die (eat healthy, exercise, don’t do unsafe things), but you can’t control that you will die.​
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You could live a happy, blessed life. Have a supportive family and community, a vibrant spirit and education, amazing opportunities just around the corner - and die from stray gunfire in a mall food court.

You could devote your life to educating the next generation and give the youth the tools and confidence they need to succeed - and get fatally rear-ended by a truck on the interstate.

The end result is not in your control. But here's what is: Being kind. Loving others. Spreading hope. Living fully. And never forgetting your humanity.

Don’t remember death to be sad or afraid of it. Remember it to live more fully.

None of us are getting out of this alive.

"Memento mori. Memento vivere."

Remember that you must die. Remember to live.

You deserve it.

Those around you deserve it.

Those who are gone deserve it.

Love and live harder.

See you next Thursday, Steppers.

We will succeed,

Grayson

​graysonstepanek.com​

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Song of the Week:

Live Like You Were Dying Tim McGraw PREVIEW   ​

I can't think of a more apt song for this newsletter. One of the first songs I have memory of in my life (alongside Drift Away by Dobie Gray). Don't let life pass you by. Live like you were dying. You'll realize that's the most alive you've ever felt.