Take a minute today to think about your death. Not in a morbid or pitiful way, but in an honest, concrete way. You will die. And you don’t know when. So, consider the following questions. If today was your last day on earth, would you be ready to die?
First, here are practical things to focus on for the good of your body:

1. What do you want your funeral to be like? Think about if you want certain hymns sung or an open casket for visitation.
2. Where do you want to be buried? If you have a preference of cemetery or who you want to be buried next to, think about that.
3. Does someone you know and trust know the answers to the previous questions so that they can take care of things for you?
Next, here are practical things to focus on for the good of your soul:
4. When was the last time you went to confession? Might as well find a time to go this weekend.
5. Who do you still need to forgive? Now is the time to try to repair relationship; don’t wait another decade.
6. How much time do you spend on small or petty frustrations throughout the day? If you have a habit of getting too worked up about life’s minor annoyances, put them into perspective today.
There is no time like the present to consider the bigger picture of your life:
7. Are you living the way you want to be remembered?
8. What do you spend your time on every day?
9. What do you wish were different about your life right now?

All of the Halloween things starting at us right now makes for a perfect time to do some self-reflection. Memento mori is a Latin phrase that means remember death.


That fake skeleton hanging from the window in your neighbor’s house or school laboratory, can be a subtle reminder to memento mori. Take stock of your life this week. What you do while you’re alive matters, so make the most of it.