You Will Be Forgotten Someday So Live a Life That Matters
Patti Page just died.
If you are a member of my generation or younger, the odds are overwhelming that you have no idea who Patti Page was. In the 1950’s, she was the third best selling artist of the decade and had lifetime album sales exceeding 100,000,000 records. Given the lower population base back then, and the limited distribution channels, she was a far bigger cultural force in her generation than someone like, say, Beyoncé Knowles or Kayne West is today.
Her song, “Tennessee Waltz” was the third best selling song of all time. Very few people I know even recognize the song today, let alone could sing it. Think about that. The third best selling song of all time. And the population, again, was much smaller back then so the accomplishment is even more impressive.
And yet, barely six decades later, she is all but forgotten by 99.99% of people who weren’t born during her reign at the top of the charts. In another decade or two, she will have faded into complete obscurity.
This is a story that is played out over and over throughout history. People think their actions will guarantee greatness and make them immortal, even if they change the course of human history. However, other than to a few historians, their names will be lost in the sands of time. Their legacy will be forgotten. They give up what matters to them. They alienate the people who care about them in pursuit of some grand goal. Or, even worse, they waste their life on things that have no lasting meaning, marking time until death takes them, sitting in a room staring at a computer screen or television.
Was Patti Page’s life a success? It depends on whether or not she loved what she did. If she woke up every day and couldn’t wait to get into the studio or in front of an audience, then yes. Otherwise, no matter how much money she made or how many albums she sold, she failed. Never forget that lesson.
No Matter How Famous, Rich, or Powerful You Are, There Are No Exceptions
Who remembers the radical monk who assassinated the King of France, Henry III, the night before his attack on Paris, setting in motion events that eventually led to the United States doubling in size after buying land in the Louisiana purchase centuries later? Most college students couldn’t even tell you about him.
Who, in my generation, knows about Wallace Beery, Janet Gaynor, Marie Dressier, and Robert Taylor, some of the biggest movie stars on the planet in the 1930’s akin in name recognition to Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, and Judi Dench? Virtually no one.
Who can recall names of titans-gone-by, such as Bernard Baruch, who made himself one of the richest men in the world by 30 years old sitting in a room, alone, trading sugar? Or Payne Whitney? Or Edward Harkness? Or Horace Dodge? Or George Baker? Or Thomas Ruyan? Or Edward Berwind? These people are lost; forgotten despite the enormous wealth and power they held less than 90 years ago! They don’t matter one bit, anymore. Their names are meaningless.
Chances are, you don’t even know who your own great-great grandfather was; what his parents were named; what he did for a living; where he lived; what his hopes and dreams were.
The same will someday happen to you. The day will come when not a single living person on the planet remembers that you existed. This should not cause you concern. It should free you. Awareness of your own mortality strips away all pettiness and meaningless activity. It keeps you focused on what matters.
Embrace It and Follow Your Heart
Do not live a life enslaved by the expectations of others.
- Don’t go into a career you hate.
- Don’t bother dating someone you wouldn’t want to marry.
- Don’t marry someone you don’t love.
- Don’t waste your time on things that don’t bring you joy.
- Don’t spend your life working for scraps of paper just to buy a little more stuff.
- Don’t get worked up if your candidate wins or loses and election.
- Don’t fight over petty things. It’s almost all petty.
- Don’t forget to spend time on the things and with the people whom matter to you most. Too many men and women invest their energy into what is going wrong, forsaking that which they say they value.
- Find things that interest you and do them, even if they don’t make you money. So many opportunities show up in unexpected places. If nothing ever comes of it, you at least had a blast.
- Don’t spend your time rationalizing things that you shouldn’t have to accept.
The old adage is true: You will regret the things you didn’t do far more than you will regret the mistakes you committed. Be rejected. Be fearless. Who cares if you embarrass yourself? We are all dead in the long run!
So many people are willing, and even insist upon, living miserable lives. It makes no sense. You cannot live to make your family, friends, or employer happy above your own happiness. When they put you in the ground, they should at least be able to say you enjoyed the incalculably tiny fraction of eternity you happened to be on this spinning rock.
If you can’t live the life you want where you are, then leave. Pack your bags and leave. Move halfway around the world if you need to but get out before you waste your life.
I told you a long time ago what I considered my standard for success when it comes to evaluating your life.
Reader Comments (10)
Comments are presented chronologically, with replies indented beneath the comments to which they respond.
James
January 3, 2013
Geez; perfect timing. Remember 5 months ago (under the Chik-fil-a post) I talked about working outside for way less money and you said your brother is the same way? I just yesterday picked up an application from a northern virginia park for part-time seasonal jobs.
I've been seriously struggling with the fact that my income is going to plummet and what would people think? I mean who gives up a big salary for minimum wage? Seriously, who does that? What in the world are people going to think?
This post is a good reminder to me to just fill out the application and do what I think is going to make me happier. Just try not to worry about the social implications. I'm so tired of sitting inside all day staring at the computer and pushing paper.
Tyler
January 3, 2013
Replying to James
Hey James. I couldn't agree more about outside work. Have you considered being a utility Lineman? They make great money, are outside all day and do challenging work. After major storms like Hurricane Sandy, you get a great sense of accomplishment and people really appreciate your efforts. Something to consider.
James
January 3, 2013
Replying to Tyler
Sure have; I've also thought about delivering Coca-Cola in the bright red trucks. But I've always wanted to work at a park or golf course so I'm going to try and do that first part-time and maybe even start a new hobby in photography.
John Patrick
January 3, 2013
Yes reminded me we are just forms of energy called DUST in this universe.
Ian Francis
January 4, 2013
Based on history, I'd say the only way to become remembered for eons is to either become a great (not necessarily good), epic leader (Alexander the Great, Hitler, etc), or change the way civilization thinks (Socrates, Einstein, etc). Even that doesn't guarantee that you are remembered forever. Maybe you will have to conquer a galaxy or destroy a solar system to be remembered. Its hard to say when we have only existed as a civilization for less than 50,000 years. Even then, like John said, we will, in the end, become nothing more than scattered subatomic particles and energy teetering on absolute zero, thanks to the second law of thermodynamics. In that sense, it makes no difference what you do, because eventually it will all be lost. For the sake of avoiding a severe depression, however, lets ignore all that and pretend we all will make a memorable difference in the universe, because that is much more exciting.
Kenneth
January 4, 2013
I read Abraham daily. Abraham is channeled by Esther Hicks. Anyways, Abraham says, the absolute standard of success in life, is Joy. Nothing more, nothing less. So aim for more joy in one's life.
Mark
January 6, 2013
I think the argument presented here is skirting dangerously close to absolute nihilism - after you die no-one will remember you or anything you have done and essentially you do not exist... so... live life to the fullest. Err... why?
In order to make sense of your conclusion (in order to make sense of anything) I think you should make explicit that we will not be remembered *on this world* but that we must assume that we are constantly perceived, that our actions are remembered and that we do matter *on a higher level*...
Joshua Kennon
January 7, 2013
Replying to Mark
Revelations are often more meaningful if you reach for them yourself instead of having someone tell you the answer.
I want you to re-read your first paragraph a few times, exactly as you have written it.
Now, ask yourself "why?" once more.
If you can't decipher the answer after a few days of thinking about it, I would respectfully submit that you don't belong on this site. There are plenty of other communities that you will find a better fit. You'll be happier there. Much of the conversation, especially among the other readers in some of the deeper-issue posts, is going to go over your head and you aren't going to be able to contribute meaningfully to the dialogue.
If you can answer it, welcome! It's nice to have you.
(I'll give you one clue: There is no philosophical system I loathe more than nihilism.)
William
January 13, 2013
Great post. I think the only thing with which I would quibble is your saying the Louisiana purchase was decades after Henry III's death. While strictly true, when the number of decades is 20 or so, it is probably clearer for most readers if you used centuries as the yardstick. Thanks for even reminding me of him, though. Having studied English history extensively, I remember him mostly for his connection as a proposed suitor to Elizabeth I. I had forgotten the rest of his story having only learned it once in a French history class long ago.
Joshua Kennon
January 13, 2013
Replying to William
That's a great point. I have no idea why I did that. I changed the language of the post; thanks!