The question arises "How do we measure life?" when someone we know dies young. And what is considered young...any time before 40, 50, or 60? Do we measure how long we have lived by:
How many hair styles we have gone through with the changing fashions?
How much the price of gasoline, bread, or candy bars have increased?
How many different cars we have driven?
How many more square feet the size of our house has increased?
How many children we have had?
I assume no one measures life by those things intentionally. I think a better way to think about it is to measure:
How many laughs you gave to others
How many smiles you have shared
How many people you have loved
How many kind deeds you have performed
How many times you have been patient
How many times you were in awe of nature
How many prayers you have uttered
How many times you have given hope to others
How many times you wiped tears of others
When a life ends, others shed tears because of the memories they had and the knowledge that there will be no more. This brings the thought of what is really important in life. I suggest it is memories. What do we carry with us through that corridor that leads from this life to the next? ....only our memories. What do we leave behind for those who walk behind us on this journey? ...only memories. The only thing that will connect forever those who knew us are memories.
Losing a loved one always gives us pause to reflect on what really matters in this life. Measure and weigh it. Consider the memories being made today and cherish them. Everything else tends to fade away.
Dedicated to Amitabh Das and all who knew him.
This clip is from the end of the movie, Jack, staring Robin Williams as a man whose body ages 4 times faster than normal, while his mind ages normally. In this clip he is really only 18 years old. The film's message deals with what is important in life. Bill Cosby has a nice monologue in the movie where he points out that shooting stars are the brightest in the sky although they only last for a short time.
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