I have not written in a while, partly because I fear I have lost the ability to put coherent sentences together. Coupled with this was the fear that my mind which is usually analytical in thinking, had turned to mush and thus idea less. Although I don't think this is the case it has been the long time coming all the same.
Today (Saturday 17/10), I went skydiving. I, however do not want to talk about this event so much as to say that this decision prompted my pondering prior to today. I will share them with you.
The scene is set. I am going skydiving. I've just received the registration form. I'm reading through the terms and conditions, as you can imagine there are lots. Most along the lines of 'you are engaging in this activity at your own risk' and 'accidents can happen'. As you can imagine, this got me thinking. What if the worst does happen? If I have a massive accident and die. So for the second half of the week, I lived with the fear of death as a companion. I don't know why this was such a real fear for me. Honestly, I couldn't place it for a while. After all, my future is secure. I know what happens to me beyond this life. So that wasn't an issue.
It was only really last night (Friday 16/10) that, as I was lying in bed thinking, something came to mind. My legacy. What I'll be known for and as at the end of my life. I instantly knew why I was scared to die. I am not happy with the legacy I am leaving at this point. I could not look back on my life and say, that I had accomplished much and was loved much. I can do better.
The point of this blog is not to tell you all my problems, (apologies if this is what it seems) but to encourage you to strive to leave a legacy worthy of what you can achieve. My questions are numerous-
- At your funeral (morbid thought time), what are people going to say about you? What did they think about you? Did they love you?
- Is there something that you have passed down to someone else that will outlive you? Or will the next generation be unaffected by your existence?
- What kind of legacy do you want to leave? Are you achieving this now?
- What is the theme of your life? When your name is mentioned what do people attach to it?
I'd encourage you to have a think about those things that I've mentioned. And think if you were to die tonight or tomorrow or soon, will you leave behind something you'll be happy with. The best thing about legacies is they can be changed. It might not be what you want it to be now, but it's not beyond hope.
The purpose of life can be summed up in one quote I love so much, "to live, to love, to learn and to leave a legacy." Note the last part. Its kinda important. :-)
