Many of us often shy away from discussions revolving around our mortality as humans.
For obvious reasons, the concept of Death isn’t something a lot of people are very fond of. But whether we like it or not, it is a fact of life that our demise from this world is inevitable.
Yesterday, I was thinking about birthdays and why people often tend to make big deals out of it. And while I was doing that, my mind started to veer off to other things and I began to ponder on the past, present, future, and most importantly, the end of it all – death.
As I went deeper in my thoughts, I began to feel a sense of fear.
Now, you should know that I have – since a very long time ago – come to terms with the fact that my existence on this plane is temporary. So, what I was feeling wasn’t the fear of death itself, but rather that of its aftermath. And if we’re being honest, that is what most people dread as well. We’re scared of the sequel, of being forgotten.
In a way, we can say that the fear of being forgotten has contributed immensely to the development of our society. It has driven lots of great men to achieve the impossible. Everyone wants to be remembered long after they're gone. Nobody wants to be forgotten when they die.
And it is that fear that motivates most folks to build long-lasting legacies. It is why people wake up 4AM every morning to face Lagos traffic, and why most wealthy men find it hard to retire even when they can afford all the luxuries of life.
The great Nina Simone once said “When I die, I’m going to die knowing that I left something for my people to build on. And that is my reward.” Everybody’s looking for that “something”. Something that people can remember them by. Everybody wants to build a legacy.
Regardless of how we go about building this legacy, one thing I think we should all be conscious of is not to let our legacy be centered around acquiring material things alone. Don’t get me wrong, by all legitimate means, get money, status, and all other desirables, but do not let those be the only things people will remember you for. Do not let them be your only metrics for success.
Be kind to people, appreciate the little things, make good memories, and most importantly, pour out your soul into the universe. Bask in her wisdom, and revel in her glory. And even when humans forget you, she won’t, because you have communed with her and she with you. She is now a part of you the same way you are a part of her. In doing that, you conquer death. You become truly immortal.