The "Last Year" Test

Some Buddhist monks periodically look at photos of corpses. It sharpens their awareness of life. What if we took the "Last Year" test? How would we change the way we live?

Did you make a New Year's resolution for 2016? Ten months into the year, how's that working for you?

Chances are that you not only didn't follow through on your resolution; you probably forgot what it was in the first place. You're certainly not alone. A study by the University of Scranton reveals that only 8 percent of people actually achieve their New Year's goals.

But even with Halloween nearly upon us, there's time to consider some goals for the coming year, or even the coming day and week ahead. In fact, as we consider the celebration of All Saints' Day, followed immediately by the "Day of the Dead," the real key to making and keeping resolutions might actually be found in considering the fact that we're all terminal. We will die, and perhaps sooner than later. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Sound morbid? Well, we might benefit from thinking more about death — our own death, in particular. It could help us to stop wasting time with foolish stuff, help us to focus attention on...