That's an interesting take. I think pain avoidance motivates me more. I was motivated to do stuff when I was younger to advance my career, my fitness, my relationships but then, that was to avoid the anticipated pain and consequences of failing in those areas.
I suppose death has always made my time here finite so- I knew I had to do the things I wanted before it came along. Still- old age works the same way in my mind really. Maybe I'll get too frail or ill to be able to accomplish this or that.
Death is such a full stop too. (I believe anyhow.) Ultimately, it won't matter if I was in the middle of something. If I had some things unachieved. I'll be dead so, I won't be regretting any of it. That gives me a sense of relief. It's going to be so nice to not have to worry about achievement and failure- even if I can't appreciate the absence of worry.
I've only really seen death as either tragic- when others die and I miss them or, as the great release. They're no longer in pain. Really though, it's been the forbidden fruit of my life. Something I've wanted since I was 10 but felt I couldn't attempt till my closest loved ones had passed themselves.
I actually just feel so much release when I think about death though. Weirdly- it doesn't motivate me to do 'life stuff'. If I knew I was going to die next month or, in a couple of months, there's no way I'd bother doing all the life crap I will inevitably have to do now. That's what's so appealing to me about death I suppose. Failure and obligation in life won't be there anymore.
Maybe I would be more focussed on the more pleasant things in life- actually living, but then, the phrase: 'Live each day like it's your last' simply isn't practical. You may not bother with filing your tax return on your actual last day on earth but you probably would otherwise, if it was the deadline and you'd be prosecuted if you didn't! Life means there's a whole long sequence of crap we need to wade through to not end up homeless. Death is the release of all that. I can't wait!
That said, I likely wouldn't leave my tax return un-filed. The Inland Revenue would likely pursue my family I imagine. That's another frustrating part. I expect the lead up to my death will still be filled with paperwork. Death is likely to be just as boringly bureaurcratic as life.
