When I tell people about my blog, the first question is usually, “What does Memento Mori mean?”

Well, Memento Mori is a Latin phrase that means “Remember you will die.”

Personally, I think the phrase itself sounds cool, and the meaning is pretty self explanatory. However, the history and deeper meaning of the phrase is what made it so inspiring for me.

Tradition says that it gets its roots from a Roman general. When he would return from incredible victory on the battlefield, people constantly celebrated him and lauded him with praise. He grew tired of this and wanted to stay humble. One day he decided to have a slave ride with him in his chariot during the post-battle celebrations. The sole job of the slave was to say the following to him every time someone yelled out praise:

“Respice post te! Hominem te esse memento! Memento mor!”

This translates roughly to “Look behind you! Remember that you are a man! Remember that you will die!”

In Medieval times, Christians adopted the phrase as a way to keep their focus on life after death. Memento Mori themes are present in art, literature, and architecture. Artists would incorporate skulls, time pieces, and other ‘mementos’ into their work to encourage thought and conversation about the afterlife. The idea was to shatter the illusion that we sometimes maintain of life as a constant. The people of the day wanted reminders of the brevity of life, and how fleeting life’s pleasures are compared to the everlasting gifts of God.

For me, I often go days, weeks, or even months without thinking about my own mortality. We all make plans for next month or next year as if it is a foregone conclusion. I don’t want to keep doing that. This phrase has become a motto for me in regards to my faith but also in my finances. I actually got it tattooed on my arm a couple years back. It’s in my own handwriting, and it is facing me to serve as a reminder for the rest of my life.

So how does all of this relate to finances?

Well the whole idea is that you need to make decisions in life that line up with what you value. By remembering that you are mortal and will die one day, it is a constant reminder that you need to be making wise decisions that bring value to your life now, and that will help you leave the lasting impact that you want.

Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, once said the following:

“Give me five minutes with a person’s checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.”

Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a new car, or even hundreds of dollars on cable T.V., I choose to spend my money in other ways that line up with what I value.

Think about what you want your life to be about. How do your current spending habits reflect the things that you value in life?

Memento Mori.