This is how I want to be remembered
"The greatness of eternity haunts men. Will our deeds echo down the centuries? Will other people hear our names long after we die, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved? "
It is likely that very few people have asked themselves this question.
HOW DO I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?
I answered this question a long time ago. It came from reading the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ", by Stephen Covey. Although, to be honest, the question as such I think I read it somewhere else, most likely in a self-improvement article that I used to read a lot when I was younger. But this visualization exercise that Stephen Covey poses to us caught my attention at the time, it did; it got me thinking and motivated me to answer.
The first version of this response dates from November 15, 2006, two days before my birthday. On those days, I always get reflective and philosophical and on the occasion of my 23rd birthday, it was no exception. That's why I decided to do this exercise and let these answers be the guide of my life. Maybe I have not fulfilled it 100%, but it has influenced immensely my values, way of thinking, feeling and acting, it has been.
ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THIS POST
In the text, you will see my answer to the question, which as I mentioned, is over 15 years old answered, with revisions in December 2010 and March 2019. In revising it for this post, I also updated it a few lines or ideas, but basically, it remains the same as it was 3 years ago. I would like to record an audio analyzing how much I have lived these premises all these years and how they have influenced my life. I hope to be able to do it before the end of the initiative.
Without further introduction, I will tell you how I want to be remembered in case I lose consciousness and stop breathing forever.
I want to be remembered...
As a courageous, bold and confident man. Who was not afraid to fight for his dreams and if he made mistakes he learned from them. That from his defeats he would take victories and from his victories he would take humility.
As a man with a permanent smile and a contagious good humor. That the seriousness, sharpness and depth of his thoughts never took away from me the desire to enjoy life, but rather strengthened it. As a man who, when I looked at his thoughts, never lost my desire to enjoy life.
As a man whose eyes conveyed love, passion, power, joy, confidence and intelligence. All at the same time, but also each in turn. If someone saw my eyes, I felt that everything was possible, that they could trust me.
As a congruent man, that what he preached and taught, he lived and practiced. That I did not believe in perfection, but in the search for personal growth and evolution and that my life was my best and greatest message. As a man of consistency, that what I preached and taught I lived and practiced.
I want people at my funeral, when sitting in front of my coffin or when they are outside talking about me, to refer to all of the above but also to this next thing. May they remember me...
As a man who knew the behavioral and emotional nature of people and that is why he conquered so many hearts and minds in his sincere eagerness to help them and make them feel important.
As a man who said what he felt and thought. Authentic, sincere and honest, even if others did not share or respect my opinion. But despite his sincerity he did not speak for the sake of speaking, but rather measured every word he said.
Hi @garybilbao, I find it very interesting what you describe in your post regarding the question you pose, as I had never felt the need to ask myself how people will remember me when I'm not here?
I will sit down to meditate about it.
I hope that people will really remember you with those and more beautiful words.
Greetings
Hello @sidelim88, Thank you for your words, I am glad that my writing has made you think about how you want to be remembered when you are no longer here. From my side this is how I want to be remembered and I hope it will be of great help to you and many more people. Greetings
This write up is absolutely fantastic. It's really wise for each human being to ask him/herself the very question you mentioned. And let the answer guide your days. Nice publication.
Thanks friend @greatideas, definitely this writing is good especially because there are people who do not ask these kinds of questions and I think it is important to take into account and think about how we want to be remembered.
We should definitely think about this every time, this way we will watch our actions, speech and thoughts. We are remembered for the things we do and not the ones we didn’t do, this means we have to live our lives everyday in pursuit of the good things we want to be known and remembered for.
Definitely, always think and keep in mind how we want to be remembered, whether for good or for bad. Our actions and attitudes will guide us and give us the answer. It is up to us whether we want to be remembered in that way or not. In my case I would try to do all the good things I could and those that I could not, I would look for a way to fix them.
So many people ignore this fact but it is important to regularly consider, life would come and go, seasons would pass but the memories we live behind lingers longer. The reality of this realization would help us focus more on our actions and activities.
Yes it is true, many people ignore this fact, but it is as you say, life comes and goes, only the memories will remain, but the question is how we want to be remembered at that moment. What teaching or reflection we will leave to our family and even to those around us, how they will remember you as a normal person or a person who despite the mistakes did not give up to be better and achieve their goals. It is important to take into account how we want to be remembered. Greetings.