Thoughts on #Mortality

 

Yesterday we went to the funeral of a friend. He was not a close friend, only someone we met mostly at get-togethers, but we’ve known him for a long time, and his son is one of the guys I go hunting with. He would have been 72 years old in June. Not old these days where people live longer. He died of cancer.

He was retired, like most of our friends now. We are all in the same age group, some a little younger and some a little older. We are members of the dying generation and one can’t help but think about death. Eventually, we all leave this existence, but as long as we are still healthy enough to enjoy life we would like to stay. Too many things still to experience, too much still left to do.

As we get older, our circle of friends shrinks, and if we are lucky to live a long life, the people who come to our funeral are few. This friend left his mark in life, which was obvious from the number of people in the church. I didn’t count them, but doing a quick calculation there must have been close to 200 there. Most of them also older people. It seems our friend had been quite popular.

How will he be remembered? How do we all want to be remembered? I made a list of the things I want people to remember about me.

I’d like to be remembered for...

What I have achieved but not for what I could have done

The things I’ve done but not for the things I didn’t do

The things I’ve said but not for what I could or should have said

The things I’ve built but not for what I should have built

For the times I was punctual but not for when I was late

For things I love, not for the things I hate

For when I hit my target but not when I missed

For the times I was calm but not for the times I was angry

For when I praised but not for when I criticized

When I was right, but not for when I was wrong

Not for when I was weak but when I was strong

For the things I liked, not for the ones I disliked

For when I succeeded but not for when I failed

For when I was happy but not for when I was sad

For when I was good but not for when I was bad

For my strengths but not for my faults

I’d like to be remembered for who and what I was,

not for the way others wanted me to be,

but mostly I want people to remember Me.