Forever Young

Forever Young

I have thought about it and I have yet to decide--would I rather die young or old.

One of the more practical and vain answers (in my opinion) that I have come across is to die young because you wouldn't have to worry about wrinkles or having too few people to attend your funeral. After all, when you've already left your earthly body, hovering over your wake, why would you want only a handful of your closest and dearest to be there with you. I mean, if I passed away, I would want a whole batch to mourn over me. I'd want my whole village to go and pay their respects to me. I would want the entirety of my co-workers to come visit my remains and cry their hearts out because they lost someone dear. Yeah, that would be so gratifying wouldn't it?

But that will not happen. And if given a choice as to whether I would have an entire multitude come to my funeral or just a handful of my friends, I would choose the latter. I was never the one to attract attention to myself. I'd probably keep to myself if we were the only strangers left in an interview room.

Maybe it's just my nonchalant attitude about not caring at all or it might also be my lack of vanity that makes me want to die an old man. Or maybe it's my love of life that spurs me onward to look forward to whatever experiences and learnings I might find during my journey. There is simply so many things to learn in this lifetime that there are people who die in the middle of expeditions to snow-capped mountains. There are people whose last thought is how they could have made this world into a better place by finding out the cure for cancer. There are people who will close their eyes on their way to the next life and realize that they want to stay a bit longer just so they can know a little more about themselves; so they can give a little more. For some people a lifetime simply is not enough.

Others will let go of their earthly life as freely as a gust of wind blows the autumn leaves into a dance. And then there are some who will try with all their might to hold on to what they have here on this earth and say that they wish they had more time to do the things they wanted to do. Try making an artist quit on his masterpiece and you will have barely glimpsed at what I am trying to say.

I will choose to leave this earthly existence as someone who has done his best; someone who tried to fulfill his wishes as well accomplish each and every thing he has set his mind to. I choose to have the knowledge that I have tried to become someone who is an inspiration to others rather than a fleeting and replaceable memory. Yes, I would agree that a thousand and one friends and relatives might pay their respects to you before you go six feet underground; but people easily forget. People tend to just shake their head in disbelief and remark, "It's such a shame." and then lead their own lives afterwards.

Nowadays, we lack a sincere and profound connection with the people whom we are close with. The pleasantries and good times reach only up to a certain level yet they do not transcend the level of ordinary acquaintances. I would honestly have only ten good friends attend my ceremony rather than have five hundred of my Friendsters show up; more than a half grumbling that they want to get it over with the program.

Quality has always won out for me. I would rather have the people whose lives I've touched be present than have a room full of strangers who really don't know who I am as a person. Ultimately, it's not about the number of breaths we take but the moments that take our breath away. When we pass on this life and when we leave someone who will remember who we are and what we have done for them, we will never die. We will be forever young. The sooner we realize that fact, the sooner we can stop getting busy dying so we can start getting busy living.