Predicting the fall
2018

Nature is not only the agent of life but also a force that guides us toward death. When we say we must live "in accordance with nature," it means we should not only expose ourselves to the exuberance of youth and the beauty of the sun but also accept autumn and decay. In reality, we all know that ultimately we will die, but this does not mean we are constantly and acutely aware of our mortality. Every mouse and giraffe will die, yet we assume these creatures do not have a mental preoccupation with their own end. However, living as logical and conscious beings "in accordance with nature" means we must move toward the future with the awareness that our lives will come to an end, that we will be separated from our loved ones, that our bodies will undergo a humiliating decline, and that when these events occur, they are almost entirely beyond our control. Perhaps this is the most challenging thought to keep in our minds. We rarely allow it to enter our consciousness; sometimes it seizes us in the early hours of the day, but we are masters at its ruthless denial. "Art as Therapy" / Alain de Botton John Armstrong