original, actually the thought of our day of passing is very important to review and remind ourselves of daily. We are to contemplate daily that we are really here for a short journey and mission to accomplish on Earth, seeking and serving the Creator.
The mussar sefers actually encourage this habit.
We must remember at all times that at the end, when Hashem comes to “call us back upstairs” we will pretty much be like a compost of flesh for the worms. Only thing remaining will be the good deeds we did and self improvement.
Only a materialist would be afraid of dying because that means an end to his physical desires and pleasures in this world. But if you want to be afraid of dying, do it in a positive way in that you’ll be afraid that you only maybe won’t succeed in fulfilling your potential and overcoming your greatest yetzer hara when its full strength against you in life.
WHen its time for me to go I will probablly be sad, remorseful and full of regret. Regret I didn’t daven enough, do teshuva enough, learn halachas and shmiras shabbos shmiras ha loshen more. DIdn’t have enough patience with my kids, didnt give more love and unconditional acceptance to my spouse. I might regret I didnt write that great novel that made people’s heads spin.
I might be sad that I could’ve been like MOshe Rabbaynu but wasn’t even close to be alwaysrunswithscissorfast.
I actually heard of this one sect of chassidim that some men have a minhag of getting up in the night and laying themselves down in a wooden box on the floor, as if lying in their coffin, which serves to remind them that they are not immortal. I am not telling you to get a wooden coffin. just…making a comment.