The Good Die Young

Life is a very complex and involved process that we all go through, yet all deal with differently. Some of us take life by the horns and face things head on, while others of us are just trying to make it through. Either way, there are only two things that are certain about life: you are born and then you die.

I've heard people say that life is not about the beginning or the end but the dash that tells the story of your impact on the world. I couldn't agree more. We all have a beginning and an end, but where we differ is in our actions. Every choice we make defines us as human beings, to ourselves and to those that hear our story and see those actions.

This is somewhat of a tribute to a great man who passed on yesterday leaving two beautiful children and a grieving wife, as well as those of us that are still here. Even more specifically, those of us that are already thinking the journey is over, when there is so much more to explore.

This man was a radio personality for WSB radio in Atlanta. He collapsed in his home last night and died of unknown causes. He was a man who was committed to helping children of incarcerated parents, serving at his church, being a good father, and being a positive contribution to society. I did not know him for a long time, but in our few interactions during service efforts, He was an inspiration. He was only 43 years old.

In the past two days, I have had two conversations with two different friends that are my age about how life is closing towards death. In a sense, they're right but we could have so much more life to live!

At what ages does one start to think that they are getting closer to death? Technically, in this mode of thought, my 8 year old sister and 6 month old niece are in the same boat, right? They're definetly not getting any younger.

It is terrible to think that we are so unaware of how important the time we have is, while a person who has everything to live for passes away. This man was 43 years old, twenty years our senior, and he was so involved, active and full of life. He didn't give off the vibe that he was thinking he would be gone soon; but the vibe that he enjoyed his life and took every day as a day to live life to the fullest.

There are so many people that didn't know when it was going to be their turn, so what makes us think we can say how much time we have left? And if we can't say how much time we have left, why wouldn't we focus on the life we have left, over the impending doom of the death that is coming regardless of whether we focus on it or not.

"Youth is wasted on the young," because we don't understand how important the time we have is. We waste our time on things that aren't important, while the elderly now understand the importance of life. I would assume that "The Good Die Young" because we stop living before our time. I hope that when I'm 80 years old, I will still be 80 years young. I hope that I can go to sleep everyday at peace with the idea that I can leave this earth at any time and have truly "Lived."

Case & Point: My heart goes out to the family of that great man and my advice to my peers is to: Live everyday like its your last and it wont matter when it's your time.