Two people I knew only tangentially, passed recently, and it highlighted the fragility and temporary nature of life. Both men had visible physical ailments, and both of them were nasty and conniving to the people around them.
While I didn't know them well, I did ask one if he believed in the afterlife, and if he was concerned about any ramifications connected to the way he treated people. He was dismissive about any possible consequences and completely unconcerned about whatever legacy he left behind.
Me on the other hand, I found myself deeply affected by the way my older sister first explained what death was to me when I was a little boy. She put it this way:
"Dying is when you go to sleep, and you never wake up..."
I got it immediately, and started thinking about my legacy at a very young age.
None of us is guaranteed to see tomorrow, so I believe that we need to consider everything we do and how our actions (or the lack thereof) will live on after us.
That's why I also try to consider how the turbulence of the wake of my ship of life will roil in the waves behind me.
The goal is to leave a light but consequential touch on every person that I intersect with. Leaving a trail of bitterness and suffering behind is something I'd never want to be a part of.
Recently, I gave away some valuable things to people that needed them. The quizzical looks were paired with questions about why they were presented with such valuable gifts. "They're yours just for being the amazing individual that you are, with no strings attached" was my response.
Every day above ground is a good one. Its yet another opportunity to build a legacy which has a positive effect on others, and one that you can be proud of.
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