Memento Vivere

The name of the game—

I arrived at the title ‘Memento Vivere’ after Googling ‘memento mori—but for life.’ I was looking for the opposite of that reminder of death, something that encourages us to fully embrace life. The phrase, which means ‘Remember to live,’ felt perfect—a reflection on growth, joy, and being present in every moment.

I hate to focus on the negative; I’d rather give energy to positive, joyful experiences. But sometimes it’s worth recounting my issues if it helps someone else work through their own struggles. So here goes.

It’s up to you to remove yourself from negative situations—

The other day, I had on my fuzzy hat because it was cold. While grocery shopping, my scalp started sweating, and I just dealt with it—until I thought, ‘Taylor, maybe if you take off this big-ass hat.’ My discomfort immediately ended. That incident was a small scale illustration of how often I author my own suffering. Sometimes, it’s as simple as taking off the hat. People and situations will present themselves, but it’s up to you to decide whether to keep enduring, or let it go.

The easiest way to go no contact—

They died. Remember, you probably don’t miss the actual person—you miss who you thought they were before the truth came out. That version is gone, and you really gotta treat it as such. Sure, you can mourn the dead, but you cannot contact the dead.

Be still, and immerse yourself in finding joy in the mundane—

It was cooler outside, so I left my patio door open. I didn’t feel like making my pudding, but I know I needed to get it done. To help, I asked Siri to play some music—several times, to no avail. Frustrated, I chose to shift my mindset. My apartment was quiet, but I could hear the life outside. I found peace in the sound of my spatula whipping curds of cream and the gentle breeze drifting in. Just as I decided I had learned what I was meant to from that moment of stillness, Siri finally played a song.

Adults grow out of procrastination. Right? RIGHT?—

I’m still that little kid telling my parents the night before that I need a project done—the only problem is, I’m the parent now. The grandmama is the baby.

Like, why am I ordering shoes the night before an event I’ve known about for months?? Honestly, I think I just like the challenge. Procrastination is my favorite extreme sport.

Patching leaky faucets—

It’s highly important to me to show up for others, especially for those who have consistently shown up for me. Recently, I was reminded of the value of nurturing old friendships and the importance of preventative maintenance before bonds begin to fray.

I think a lot of preventative maintenance in relationships gets overlooked because we tend to overcomplicate it. It doesn’t have to be a big production—there’s no need for a round table discussion to address a drifting friendship.

I’ve grown to appreciate the simplicity of grown-up hangouts. Let’s go for a walk in the park, smell some candles at Target, grab oysters for lunch, and get us a lil treat after. I love a good Sex and the City-esque afternoon. Let’s go to the next spot.

I’ve entered the Kleenex auntie era—

Chile, I’m about to start carrying Kleenex in my pocketbook when I go to events! In the past few weeks, I’ve been to three where I found myself crying—two of them were full-on ugly boohoo cries! I am so emotional in this phase of my life, lol.

I just feel everything so deeply, and I’m so incredibly proud of and happy for the people around me. I’m grateful for them and for being included in their journey. Sometimes all those feelings manifest into a stream of tears, and I’m gon’ let them flow every time! Idk what else to tell you, lol.

I was down at the Bowman wedding. The officiant said, “Good evening,” I’m already crying.

Not where I want to be, but better than I was—

I’ve been reflecting on the bullshit I used to tolerate, recounting it like it happened to someone else—because, in a way, it did. The person I am now wouldn’t put up with even half of the things I accepted when I was still an idiot tolerating disrespect. For the discernment to know better and the gift of detachment, I’m truly grateful.

I also love being the friend people come to when they start their therapy journey. Like, yes! Get in loser, we’re going healing!

It’s such an honor, and I’m always thankful to be a positive influence on the people around me.

Girl on film—

I started documenting my life as a creative outlet and as a way to remember my adventures as I age. At first, I thought it was just for me—but it isn’t, really. While my blogs are an outlet for my thoughts, one of my goals has always been to positively impact the lives of others.

I create my vlogs with an artistic style that reflects what I personally want to see. I say it’s about what I like, and nobody else. While that is true for my creative vision, my vlogs are also lowkey about creating a legacy. I want anyone watching them—now or in the future—to see without a doubt that I lived a beautiful life filled with joy and love. I want them to say, “Damn, she was living good as hell.” Because I am.

Documenting these moments with gratitude has been an emotional and creative release. My hope is that sharing my journey inspires others to do the same. Even if it’s just for you, document your journey—you might even discover you’re living good as hell too.