 |
| Choose your words carefully. |
At
17 years old, I've seen but a sliver of what life has to offer. I could
go on about what I expect from my future, from my career, my marriage and
family life, or from my old age, but then I would just be fumbling in the dark.
I don’t know what twists and bends await me, nor do I want to spoil those
surprises for myself. Yet I have my hopes and dreams like the next person. Whether
I die at a ripe old age, or at any unexpected time, I want others to say that I
led an honorable life that was true to who I am. They say that in the
afterlife, if there is such a thing, you leave everything behind. That’s not
very much at the moment, but in the coming years, I hope it will be a good
lasting impression on the people in my life. I want it to be a legacy that I
will adhere to everyday. To wrap up my blog, I’m leaving you with a potential
epitaph that I would like written on my tombstone (although it is rather long,
so I’ll need a really big rock). This series started at birth; it seems only
right to go full cycle. Every blog I’ve written has been a build up to this
moment, because each one depicted a moment that contributed to who I am today,
and it’s exactly that person I want to give homage to in this future final
farewell.
 |
| Strong, frightening, fearless, caring. |
HERE lies a man,
Grown old and weary in
time,
No longer a boy who
ran,
In whose spirit still
blossoms the youthful vine.
He died on his feet,
Strong, fearless,
frightening yet caring.
Undefeated by every
foe, every fleet,
Occasionally
despairing, yet always daring.
He was unafraid of the
menace of the years
Of how charged with
punishments was his scroll;
He lived his life in
high gear,
It was the one thing
he could control.
 |
| Break free. Transcend. |
He was a defender of
the weak,
For he too once lacked
the strength,
To stand up for being
unique,
To preserve that which
he believed in, at length.
He existed to inspire,
To rally others until
his last breath did expire.
Born into a world he
mistrusted,
The task of spreading
love and justice, he was entrusted.
His purpose was to
transcend mortal limits,
To break free of the
shackles that restrained his kind,
And so to surmise his
life within minutes,
Is an injustice to his
state of mind.
To the family he left
behind,
 |
| Rise, Captain! |
Both blood and bond
combined,
The legacy that he
most prized,
Was the simple act to
LIVE TO RISE.
“Remember me”, he
began,
“Know that I was my
own man.
That the burdens of
life are a minor toll,
When you are the
captain of your own soul.”
References:
1 "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley
I was discussing potential epitaphs with my buddy the other day and I decided on Gone Fishin'. I should like to be remembered with a smile. Although realistically the Earth is probably running out of room for graves and eventually we will all end up cremated, disintegrated or tossed into the deep blue sea... We can dream. There are grave stones from the 17th century that are still standing strong, after all - maybe I'm wrong!
ReplyDeleteExcellent and thought provoking blog. I especially liked your post about your trip to Ecuador. Really put's everything into perspective doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteFantastic advice on your cocoon post. It all does get tougher, but if you put the work in, the world will really open up for you.
A few formatting & grammar issues (ex. your vs you're) but overall, a very good read.