We´ll All Be Forgotten Unless You Are Michael Jackson or Vladimir Putin
It's natural to want to be remembered. Have you thought about your legacy?
“We build our legacy piece by piece, and maybe the whole world will remember you or maybe just a couple of people, but you do what you can to make sure you’re still around after you’re gone.” — David Lowery
It’s a sad but true fact that most people will be forgotten after they die. Even if you were a great person or accomplished something extraordinary, your name will be lost to history within a few generations.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, of course. People like Michael Jackson and Vladimir Putin are so famous that their names will likely be remembered long after they’re gone. But for everyone else, the best bet is to try to leave a lasting legacy through their work.
If you want to ensure that your name is remembered after you die, try to do something that will have a lasting impact on the world. Write a book, invent something, or start a business that will change people’s lives for the better.
Even if you’re not remembered as an individual, your work will live on and continue to make a difference.
Why do people care about being remembered?
There are a few different reasons people care about being remembered after they die. For some, it’s a matter of ego — they want to be known as the person who did X, Y, or Z.
For others, it’s more about leaving a lasting legacy. They want to know that their work will continue to make a difference long after they’re gone.
And then some want to be remembered by their loved ones. They want to know that their life meant something and be missed when they’re gone.
No matter what your reason is for wanting to be remembered, it’s essential to think about how you can leave a lasting legacy.
Whether through your work, actions, or words, make sure that you’re doing something that will positively impact the world. Only then can you be sure that you’ll be remembered long after you’re gone.
What is a legacy? Does everyone leave one?
A legacy is something that you leave behind after you die. It can be anything from a physical object to an idea or a way of doing things.
Not everyone has a legacy, but everyone can leave one if they want to. You don’t need to be famous or have done something unique to leave a lasting legacy. All you need to do is make sure that your work will continue to impact the world long after you’re gone.
Think about what you want your legacy to be, and then take steps to make it happen. If you’re not sure how to get started, talk to someone who knows more about legacies and how to create them. They can help you figure out what you need to do to ensure your legacy lasts.
Life goes on, except for the one dying.
As much as we don’t like to think about it, death is a natural part of life. Everyone dies eventually, and we can do nothing to change that.
We can try to make the most of our time while alive. We can strive to leave a lasting legacy that will continue to make a difference long after we’re gone.
Today, no one alive remembers people from the 17th century unless they talk about a specific event. Even then, the recognized people are usually only those who were famous or did something important.
The same will be valid for us. We will all be forgotten unless we do something that leaves a footprint.
We are the center of our universe.
When we die, our universe dies with us. We are the only ones who can remember our own lives, and once we’re gone, there is no one left who can remember it.
Only you lived your life. No one knows you; people only interact with who they perceive you are. Even your closest friends and family only know a small part of you.
Some people believe in an afterlife, and some do not. If there is an afterlife, our legacy will continue in that realm. If there is not, we need to think about what we can do to leave a legacy behind.
And of course, we may argue that once we are gone, we won’t care if we are remembered or not. But the truth is, most people want to be remembered.
It gives our life a sense of meaning and purpose to know that we will be remembered long after we’re gone. It’s a way of leaving something behind that will continue to make a difference.
Who hasn’t played out in their minds their funeral? Who hasn’t thought about what people will say about them when they’re gone?
It’s natural to want to be remembered. And it’s essential to think about how we can affect that.
What are some things you can do?
Here are a few ideas:
Be an inspiring leader.
Do something that makes the world a better place.
Help others achieve their goals.
Be creative and innovative in your work.
Make a difference in your community.
Teach others what you know.
Share your talents with the world.
Be kind and compassionate to others.
Live your life with integrity and honesty.
Leave a lasting impression on those you meet.
Of course, it’s possible to be remembered for doing something terrible. But that’s easy; anyone can destroy. It’s much easier to create harm than good.
Some people have even gone that far as to kill someone famous so they can also be remembered. But that isn’t a real legacy.
A real legacy continues to have a positive impact even after you’re gone. It’s something that makes the world a better place.
Have you put some thought into your legacy? What do you want to be remembered for? No one can live forever, but our legacy can. It’s up to us to decide what that legacy will be. Let’s make it a good one.
This article was first published on Medium.com.