While one could much more efficiently plan things out if they knew the exact time of their death- it’s not necessary. You can already live every day to the fullest if you wish. The consequences of your actions will be no different than they would of you knew when you would die. Say for instance you are told you’ll die at 90- what would that change? You don’t have to take care of yourself any better or worse than you already would have right? What’s more- if you know how you die and when- what would stop you from avoiding that, or how do you know that if you didn’t know it wouldn’t change it? Like if you were told you would die tomorrow- so you decided to go Wild your last day, and the act of going wild is what kills you.. but you wouldn’t have done that if you didn’t “know” you’d die tomorrow. You can do anything today that you could if you knew when you would die- fear is the issue, knowing your death just takes the fear of consequences- but fear is an emotion and can be controlled.
Tell me that I'll die in combat in 6 years and I'll plan to that point.
Update my life insurance, carefully allocate every spare dollar to my sister's future (since I don't have one anymore), and settle all my debts and obligations.
Then, when that light turns green and I'm getting ready to jump - I'll have no reservation or fear. I will die that day, and I will make the enemy earn it. And hopefully my brothers will know that I'm alright with how everything happened.
At that point, living is the worst that could happen, and that's far from bad by most standards.
But- let’s say you are already investing some degree in your own future and your sisters. That investment will grow the same amount in 6 years wether you live or die, and you don’t need to know when you die to set up wills or trusts to make sure everything you have would go to your sister anyway. So how would knowing you’re going to die in 6 years increase your earnings over the next 6 years? You could argue it would make you work harder- but since you don’t know you could die tomorrow- so wouldn’t that make you work harder anyway? As for the enemy- every time you go into combat you might die, and every time if you aren’t “making them earn it,” you aren’t giving your all which just increases the chance they go home and you don’t any given day. So how would that be different than every other time, or any other moment? If you didn’t know you were going to die that day would you jump and just half ass it or give up fighting? So I still don’t see a major difference.
I mean every spare dollar.
No personal endeavors whatsoever. No college, or that new truck.
Not even that slick new pistol I want - because it would be worthless to my sister who has no interest in learning to use it, or trying to sell it.
Now, I like to think I will always give my all in combat, but I imagine that knowing certainly and without a doubt that today I make the Last Jump would bring with it a kind of peace.
Relief. Ease. Calm.
No fear of death or dismemberment, because it's already guaranteed. No trying to break contact (I know it's pointless), no hesitating when that grenade lands by me (no time to throw it back, may as well make sure I'm the only casualty), no panic when that hot lead or hotter shrapnel tears through me (wasn't gonna see tomorrow anyways). No regrets when my lifeblood mingles with the mud and brass (I've made my peace, said my goodbyes).
Dark as it is, knowing the exact date and manner of my death would be a kind of gift. Worst case, I live.
I'm broke yo. Also I partially do live to my heart's content but as living to the fullest I cannot. As I have primary responsibility over others meaning pets and a few peeps that I cannot afford to splurge or bail their care.
Update my life insurance, carefully allocate every spare dollar to my sister's future (since I don't have one anymore), and settle all my debts and obligations.
Then, when that light turns green and I'm getting ready to jump - I'll have no reservation or fear. I will die that day, and I will make the enemy earn it. And hopefully my brothers will know that I'm alright with how everything happened.
At that point, living is the worst that could happen, and that's far from bad by most standards.
No personal endeavors whatsoever. No college, or that new truck.
Not even that slick new pistol I want - because it would be worthless to my sister who has no interest in learning to use it, or trying to sell it.
Now, I like to think I will always give my all in combat, but I imagine that knowing certainly and without a doubt that today I make the Last Jump would bring with it a kind of peace.
Relief. Ease. Calm.
No fear of death or dismemberment, because it's already guaranteed. No trying to break contact (I know it's pointless), no hesitating when that grenade lands by me (no time to throw it back, may as well make sure I'm the only casualty), no panic when that hot lead or hotter shrapnel tears through me (wasn't gonna see tomorrow anyways). No regrets when my lifeblood mingles with the mud and brass (I've made my peace, said my goodbyes).
Dark as it is, knowing the exact date and manner of my death would be a kind of gift. Worst case, I live.