A younger friend of mine from high school recently shared the following post from another Facebook page:
“Have you ever thought of this?
In 100 years like in 2123 we will all be buried with our relatives and friends. Strangers will live in our homes that we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today. All our possessions will be unknown and unborn, including the car we spent a fortune on, and will probably be scrap, preferably in the hands of an unknown collector. Our descendants will hardly know who we were, nor will they remember us, How many of us know our grandfather’s father?
After we die, we will be remembered for a few more years, then we are just a portrait on someone’s bookshelf, and a few years later our history, photos, and deeds disappear into history’s oblivion. We won’t even be memories.
If we paused one day to analyze these questions, perhaps we would realize how ignorant and weak the dream to achieve it all was.
If we could only think about this, surely our approach and our thoughts would change and we would be different people.
Always wanting more, no time for what is really valuable in this life. I’d change all this to enjoy the walks I’ve never taken, the hugs I didn’t give, the kisses for our children and our loved ones, the jokes we didn’t have time for. These would certainly be the most beautiful moments to remember, after all, they would fill our lives with joy.
And we waste it day after day with greed and intolerance.”—Anonymous
Wow. I wouldn’t want to sign my name to this either. This is about the most depressing thing I’ve ever read. I have cleaned up some of the misspellings and grammar, but I still am shaking my head quite a bit.
“All our possessions will be unknown and unborn, including the car we spent a fortune on, and will probably be scrap, preferably in the hands of an unknown collector.”
Really? What is an “unborn” possession? I would think that means it doesn’t exist yet. If that is the case, why would we care? Not really sure.
And some collector is going to want my Subaru Outback complete with all the scratches from my battle with a fence pole and the dinged-up back bumper when I didn’t pull the car in the garage enough. One hundred years from now I am pretty positive at best it will be scrap and at least it will have a purpose in that.
“Strangers will live in our homes that we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today.”
And the idea that my house and all my possessions will be completely taken over by a new family living a parallel life 100 years from now? Interesting thought. Hmm.
“After we die, we will be remembered for a few more years, then we are just a portrait on someone’s bookshelf, and a few years later our history, photos, and deeds disappear into history’s oblivion. We won’t even be memories. “
I never knew either of my grandfathers, let alone their fathers, but with a few minutes of research on Ancestry I was able to find out about them. My great-grandfather on my father’s side was named George Washington Buckner. Quite the character I’d suspect. I have his obituary and other notable information. On my mother’s side, my great-grandfather is Carl Henry Brunnworth. Not as many facts readily available but I could dig deeper if I wanted. My point is, in this day and age, if you want to find out about your ancestors, it’s pretty easy to do. They don’t just have to be a “portrait on someone’s bookshelf.” If you really care to learn about their lives, the information is out there. Their lives might surprise you. They certainly do matter, if they matter to you.
“If we paused one day to analyze these questions, perhaps we would realize how ignorant and weak the dream to achieve it all was.”
I am not really sure what questions the author is referring to. Who will be living in our house? Will our car become a collector’s item? When will our possessions be born? Who is in that portrait on the bookshelf?
I don’t believe people are “ignorant and weak in the desire to achieve their dreams.” I am absolutely positive that you can pursue your wildest aspirations and still have the time and desire for “walks, hugs, and kisses.”
I’ve never been very good at telling or hearing, “jokes” so that isn’t something big on my list to look back on when my life is over.
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I don’t look at life as one-dimensional, where you can either be successful in business or successful with relationships and not both. Having goals and pursuits has never made me feel “intolerant” and “greedy”. Goals give me a purpose and something to learn and achieve. And I’ve never pursued anything for the sake of taking something away from another person.
I really don’t understand anything in this quote at all.
It definitely got me pretty riled up though. Maybe that was the point?
In spite of themselves, the author reminded me that it is okay to dream big at any age and to pursue your goals. After all, a hundred years from now, one of your descendants might be researching their family and stumble across your life and find it fascinating. Maybe you will even inspire them? They might think they can be brave enough to chase their dreams because of your story.
Don’t feel like you have a story? Everyone does. We are all unique and yet similar. We all have different personal experiences, talents, traits, and yes, perspectives on life.
So, this quote reminded me that there is no time like the present to write down some interesting stories about your life or your family which I am sure your relatives will appreciate. If not now, perhaps many years from now.
It is just one way to leave your mark on the world. Other ways include getting involved with your community, mentoring others, volunteering, other creative endeavors such as painting, photography, or music, new technologies or inventions, charitable giving, and being a role model for your family and friends.
Because your life matters. Pursuing happiness and dreams matters too. And you can certainly do that without forsaking or threatening others.
And I promise there will be plenty of time for walks also. And hugs and kisses too of course.
***Footnote I’ve done some additional research to try to discover the writer of this quote, and while I did not find an author, I did find the quote posted in several places online and discovered there was more to the quote itself:
“…And yet we waste it day after day with greed, character assassination, personal attacks, and obsession with fame and conformity. People really need to self-reflect and consider all of this. Would you be proud of the way you are behaving towards others? Live an honorable life, do right by people, fight for the truth, and live with others in consideration. No one gets out of here alive.”
Now that, I can absolutely understand, agree with, and get behind! And I know what the real question is now.
And with that, I’m off to write a completely new and different article. One I hope to be a little less divisive and depressing.
Thank you for reading! Keep smiling!
Please note that the opinions written are completely my own and are not meant to offend, be disrespectful, or undermine others.