I’m supposed to be welcoming my fourth child into the world today – instead, the birth is delayed by a week and I find myself instead thinking about death. In the wake of the death of Steve Jobs last night, many of us are mourning the loss of one of the greatest innovators the world has ever known. The visions brought to reality under the leadership of Steve Jobs will continue to transform the world for decades to come. This isn’t another tribute post though – its a reminder of the limited time we all have on earth.
When we die, life rolls on. The clock keeps ticking. It’s game over. What you leave behind on that fateful day is your legacy. For people like Steve Jobs, they will forever be remembered. But we all leave a legacy that will be remember forever by someone. How will I be remembered? What will my legacy be? These are questions I want answers to. Questions I can answer through my actions.
My father died in an explosion when he was 26. I was 9 and I never got to meet the man.
My ‘uncle’ Rob – the unquestionable father figure for me in my younger years – died of heart failure at the age of 30. I was 22. He was in the best shape of his life and the literal poster child for what a Connecticut State Trooper should be (he’s the first one standing on the left of this poster from the late 80s).
We’ve all lost somebody we loved at some point – I know I’m not alone. Life is fickle and it comes with no guarantee. You can’t control your start or end, but you have all the control over NOW.
The unpredictability of life has made me appreciate living more. Not living today to the fullest is wasteful. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives – what will we do with it?
Back to Steve Jobs. If you haven’t watched “How to Live Before You Die“, the commencement address Jobs delivered in 2005. Go watch it. It’s even more inspiring today.
For now, I’ll close this post by suggesting you do something today to embrace the life you have today. Do it for yourself, do it as a tribute to Jobs or someone you’ve lost. For me, I’ll probably go to the park and play with my kids on this perfect fall day. Enjoy the day.
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