I spent some time on the river. Can you handle the truth?

**BraggSurvivor** · 08-06-2008, 12:32 AM

YOUR just like all the rest of us. You will be little more than a name on a stone in a damn field that some guy run's over with a lawnmower once a week.
Even your decendants will only mention you in passing in a few years at best.
All your work's will disapear into the dust with you eventualy...

Many of us strive to do something "big". But what good is doing something "big" anyway? I was recently reading about Vincent Van Gogh's life. One of the greatest, most respected painters in world history. But at the time of his life he was a nobody and he had a miserable life. It was only after he lived that his work became appreciated. So did Van Gogh's life have more meaning and purpose than the average Joe? When he lived it, he was the average Joe and an unhappy one at that. Now he is exalted.

And even for those who attain fame and fortune in their day. Let's say Paul McCartney as an example. Is his life really any better than anyone elses? He has achieved fame, fortune and acclaim that will last generations. But is his life any more valuable or better than the average Joe I talked about earlier? The guy has lost the love of his life and just spent a year going through a miserable divorce. Is this a life to put up on a pedastal?

Every now and then my ego gets the best of me when I plug my own name into Google and see what comes up. But who cares except for me anyway. We are all more important to ourselves than anyone else.
I've come to the conclusion that the value of life comes from the experience of living day to day. Making the most of every moment. It's very cliched. In the end I think contentment trumps fame and fortune any day.

Sometimes we all need to take a good long look at the big picture. In today's world it is so damn easy to get caught up in all of the silly bull$hit life throws at us. We all get so busy with all the "drama" in our life we forget to live it.

...you got choice in maximizing your stay here.... live to the fullest.....

.... or .... you can use your time here to...fight greed, injustice and alleviate the sufferings of others....

**Gray Wolf** · 08-06-2008, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by BraggSurvivor

Your life isn't about how many breaths you take, it's what you do with those breaths that matter

I always thiught that it was:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

**Sourdough** · 08-06-2008, 01:31 AM

Once a month I write in big letters: WHAT REALLY MATTERS....? on a sheet of paper, and for the next day or three I add stuff and take stuff off.

Health and fitness is generally near the top
Exploring, wandering, hiking is near the top

The other thing I do is remind myself daily that my lifestyle is over at 70 (or there abouts) and don't waste the next eight years.

**Rick** · 08-06-2008, 06:34 AM

Many of the great things I will achieve in life have already been accomplished. Good husband, good father, good son, good friend. Good role model. Good servant. I still have a few things that I would like to achieve for however long I have left. They are: Good husband, good father, good son, good friend. Good role model. Good servant.

I'm reminded of the words of George C. Scott in the movie Patton:

"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. And a slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."

**crashdive123** · 08-06-2008, 07:42 AM

There ya go Bragg. Nice post. I can see that you're starting to come around.

**Ole WV Coot** · 08-06-2008, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by rebel

For me, life isn't over after my time on this earth. So, that changes the way I think about certain things. I do enjoy my hobbies and possessions. However, you are to build up your wealth in Heaven and I think that means through leading people to Christ. That would include being a good spouse, father/mother or friend. The lives you change may be in your home. The lives you influence may influence others for change.

Gotta go along with Rebel. 35 or more yrs of doing lots I am ashamed of now still comes back to bite me. If I hadn't tried to change my pic would be on the post office wall by now. I can Google my name and get a few decent hits and pics, but all in the last 10yrs. I try but still have a bad temper but I hurt longer and heal slower and can't hill climb with a trail bike without breaking something (torn rotor cuff). I guess if you make it past 60 you learn to stop and think.

**RobertRogers** · 08-06-2008, 12:18 PM

Yeah, most people live like they are going to live forever.

My neighbor, for example, is in his 70's and mows his lawn twice a day with a big noisy mower for hours on end. The guy looks half dead. Why is he wasting the last years of his life riding a mower when he could be out walking, listening to the birds, fishing, visiting his grand kids and all that?

When I come to die I am NOT going to wish I had spent more time on a lawn mower!

**crashdive123** · 08-06-2008, 02:42 PM

Maybe his enjoyment comes from the smell of fresh cut grass.

**trax** · 08-06-2008, 06:24 PM

Yeah, I like the idea of looking at the big picture. One of my teachers a long time ago sent me out to a lake late at night and told me just to stand out there on the beach and look around. The next day, aside from 'don't forget your bug dope' I wasn't sure what I was supposed to have learned and I approached her about it.

"Did you stare up at the skies?" she asked.

"Yes."

"And how many stars were there?"

"I don't know, billions I guess"

"and did you look at the beach?"

"Yes"

"how many grains of sand?"

"I don't know, trillions I guess"

"and there you stood, somewhere in between them all, and you're not standing there tonight, but they all are"

Made me think, alright. I also kind of like the thought that 10,000 years from now if some archaeologist digs up my bones, he isn't going to know that I had a crappy day at the office on August 6, 2008 or that I had my heart broken back whenever that was. So, do what you're going to do with your day, and make the best of it.

**dilligaf2u2** · 08-06-2008, 11:29 PM

The Drifter!

These words I leave, as my last score.
And nothing more!
I know when, It is my time to die.
There will be no one, Wishing to cry.

History will not choose, To remember me.
For this is how, It is meant to be.
The world has not changed, By my hand.
Just as I have always, Hoped and planed.

I wish not my loves, Nor the people I’ve know.
Be told of my death, Nor my body be shown.
I wish that there be, Not one to recall.
The day of my rise, Nor the night when I fall.

Call to the drifters, Come lay this man down.
In the still of the night, Too the bay of a hound.
And be not a priest, Nor words to be said.
No mark or stone, Orr my head.

For I am that, Which I must be.
But a single, Forgotten memory.
Passing threw life, Without a trace.
No one remembering, My forgotten face

When God and I, Meet face to face.
That is when, I will know my place.
And the peace I seek, I hope to find.
Hidden deep within, My lonely mind!

My soul set free, to roam at will.
My heart for once, can lay still.
God and I will walk, hand in hand.
For I know, He will understand.

By : Dilligaf2u2

**trax** · 08-07-2008, 09:47 AM

Yeah, that was beautiful dill, thanks.

**dilligaf2u2** · 08-08-2008, 02:30 AM

I am a poet and did not know it!

I wrote that some 25 years or so ago. It still applys! Yes I am the writer of that. When time and the mood strikes me, I can put out some nice work.

Don

**FVR** · 08-08-2008, 06:18 PM

I live for my kids.

Everyday I wake up, I look at them and realize that they are why I do what I do.

I've had a few minutes in the spotlight, articles written about me by newspapers, when I google my name, some things pop up.

When I'm long gone, my children and my childrens children will know that their father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, great great grandfather, was a Marine and that he was some kind of old time woodsman. In a time when there were not so much old times.

I go through life, doing what I do and trying to enjoy every moment of it. It's hard sometimes.