Something I've thought about often throughout my life. What will be left of me in 100 years?
Part of that is in a physical sense. Although there isn't much mystery there - we all know that there isn't much left of us 100 years from now. A few bones, maybe some ash. Maybe under a shade tree in a cemetery or spread over some meaningful location. This concept has always frightened me. Death has always scared me. The thought of no longer existing on this earth has always been something very difficult for me to cope with.
But what about the non-physical portion of it? What else will be left? What legacy is left? Children? Grandchildren? After a generation or two - anybody that actually knew you is no longer there either. The people that knew you and talked to you and could tell stories about you have also moved on. Are you able to leave any kind of lasting legacy beyond that? Is there anything in your life that you can accomplish that makes you last after those stories for a generation or two? A select few are able to leave a legacy like that. But most of us just get our few decades, a microscopic piece of the timeline of history. And then we're gone.
Does that mean we are to work harder to create a more lasting legacy? Or does it mean we just accept that our time will end. That the reality is that our story will simply end.
Or, does that lengthened legacy matter? Is my job on this earth only to create my boys? Are Fenn and Lincoln my legacy? Is my legacy beyond that even within my control? Do they control my legacy?
100 years from now someone will be writing down their thoughts on some kind of computerish device that we can't currently imagine. 100 years from now somebody's kids will be running around giggling and playing in the next room. 100 years from now government and countries will still be battling. 100 years from now people will be over-analyzing both complex and simple concepts.
And 100 years from now, I will have been under my shade tree or in my meaningful location for a good 60 years. Will anything other than that remain?
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