Tombstone of John Street III mpaulweeks.github.io/tombstone
Recently, I’ve found a new life’s motto, or catchphrase of the week, depending on how long it stays in my vocabulary.
I’ve taken to telling all my friends that even if the choices I’m making in the present moment don’t seem very smart, it’s okay because I’m going to “die lit”. I will also observe the bad behavior of others and proclaim proudly that they’re going to die lit too.
Now this answer usually gets a laugh from them, but dying lit is something I firmly believe in, and I think it’s a philosophy worth breaking down and sharing. Because really, everyone should die lit, and if it has to start with me, then so be it.
I’m pulling the phrase straight from the title of Playboi Carti’s 2018 album “Die Lit.”
Depicted on the cover of the album is a man at some grungy party doing a front flip into the crowd. The idea is that this and the actions rapped about on the album might not be practical or safe, but having fun is the priority, even if it kills you.
For me, the phrase “die lit” symbolizes freedom and personal joy.
I wear dark clothes regardless of the weather because even if I’m hot, it makes me happy. If I were to die of heat stroke at that moment, I would certainly die lit. This philosophy also applies to things like diet, financial decisions, and any other choice that should be made carefully.
The prime component to dying lit is living for yourself. Every choice you make should be entirely your own, and all your choices should contribute to your current well-being, even if it isn’t beneficial long term.
Now, dying lit is very similar to hedonism, a philosophy about maximizing one’s pleasure. It’s so similar that I almost don’t have an original idea here, but the two have a couple of key differences.
One of the cornerstones of hedonism is the idea that the pursuit of pleasure is the correct way to live life. With dying lit, I acknowledge that what I’m doing is ignorant and that there are surely smarter ways to spend one’s time.
Likewise, hedonism is about living a long and pleasurable life. Death isn’t a consideration tied explicitly into the concept of hedonism, since it isn’t pleasurable to be weighed down by the thought of dying.
On the other hand, dying lit is more concerned with existentialism. The “dying” part is the acknowledgment that one could die any day and the hope that by dying lit, when one does pass, one won’t have any regrets.
It’s the pursuit of pleasure as an act of acceptance, not defiance.
Dying lit is always impulsive and irresponsible. These aren’t choices that are given much consideration, but they should always have an immediate and positive impact.
If you want to go to watch three movies in a day, eat five pints of ice cream at night, or stay up for twenty-four hours, you should do so. The consequences will come hard and come later. Your mind should always be set on the now.
Dying lit does not mean dying young. Though it can, the two do not go hand in hand. Choosing to die lit shouldn’t kill you though, which I know doesn’t make sense given the name of the practice.
Dying lit is not a philosophy about suicide or expecting to meet death, but rather taking comfort in knowing that if you were experiencing your last moments on Earth, they would be some of your happiest.
Choosing to die lit doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in your future either. It’s just a reminder that we live in the present and that sometimes the most important thing is what’s right in front of us.
Death is the great equalizer. Everything has to fade, and everyone has to go. But we can be equal in life too.
The end goal is to walk out the door smiling. I believe that ultimately, the best thing we can do is to live for ourselves and keep our minds on the present, so that hopefully, when the time comes, we all can die lit.
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