I saw a young motorcyclist get hit broadside and killed the other night. I was 3 cars back in the left lane when the guy making a left hit and killed the motorcyclist. The young man didn’t even know what hit him. He appeared to die instantly. He was on his way home from work. It was an overcast but clear afternoon. He had no idea that night was his time to cross. His family and friends were not prepared. Here one minute and gone the next. It was sad. Yet there is a gift in his death.
We all die. Most people live so unconsciously they do not know when they are going to die. Others are conscious in their living and have a knowing or at least an awareness. And yet others suffer with illness that allows them an external awareness they are dying. The experience of this young man’s death brought me a gift. If I die tomorrow, what is the legacy I leave behind? Then I asked a second question. What is the legacy I wish to leave behind?
This life has purpose. Each of you is capable of learning that purpose. It is inside you and about the experience YOU are having on this plane: your internal experiencing of life. It is about the challenges you face and if you choose to master or continue to allow the suffering. It is about the relationships you forge and how true they are to you and how true you are to them. This life is about living beyond the suffering that it presents to you. All challenges can lead to greener pastures if you look for the gift they offer in their purpose.
That young man’s life had definition and his death was a part of that purpose and definition. It was a shorter experience than he “thought” and that his family and friends “thought”. We all have free will. There may be choice points along the path of life that allow us to cross or continue. The more conscious we are in our living, the more we see on the path of life and, consequently, the greater our opportunity for conscious choice. If our focus is on our job, our money, or what others think and expect of us, then we do not know who we are fully. The external focus is not of you and who you are. It is about others and things. If you knew you were going to die tomorrow would you work 12 hours today and go home frustrated? Would you focus on meeting expectations that please others leaving your Self lonely and unattended to? Would you be worried about the person who accidentally cut you off? Ask your Self if your last day would be better by not taking work so seriously that you carry it home with you. Would it be more fulfilling to feel known and understood? Would you be grateful that the person did not hit you for both of your sake’s (no one wants to hit anyone).
Allow the short life of that young man to gracefully gift all of us. Take the time this week to write down the legacy you would leave behind if you died tomorrow. Then ask yourself what legacy you wish to leave behind in this life. Do they match? Be sure they are complete. Think about your eulogy and how you would be described by each person in your inner circles: your partner, boss, colleagues, employees, family members, neighbors, friends, etc. Take the time necessary to be thorough in your definition of your legacy. Then live it! Every day live! Feel life! Feel your Self alive! Feel your choices and interactions and mistakes and….. Let this young man’s short life be a gift toward fulfillment in yours! May each of you find joy within!
Beautifully. Said
Comment by Karen —
Thought provoking & very timely…thanks!
Comment by Deborah —
We lost a bike rider on this year’s SmartRide. He left us too soon but also had a huge positive impact on his community. He also had commented that riding his bike 105 miles that day was probably the best day of his life – not a bad way to leave. I have to believe he learned the lessons this life had to teach.
Comment by William Longstreth —