The Lesson Of Life: Death

The first thing I heard when I woke up today was that Whitney Houston left us this early morning. And now her famous song I will always love you keeps on playing on the radio.

Because I was only a very young child when she was at the climax of her career, I didn’t cry or anything. I remembered I listened to her songs long ago with my mum, who was a big fan. And that made me feel like when Michael Jackson had just died.

Houston’s songs would from now become those of the most listened ones and this is what we’ll all get on the radio. When Michael Jackson died, we stayed silent for 1 minute in the school hall in honour of the artist and if there was school today, I’m sure we would have done the same. Then, some of those who weren’t fans at all would become fans and hysteria would reign.

Yeah. A celebrity died today.

I MET A TRAVELLER FROM AN ANTIQUE LAND
WHO SAID: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert… Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:

My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Poem   by P.B. Shelley “Ozymandias”

Our life is so small and insignificant compared to Time itself. The universe and Earth have existed for billions of years while we have a short span of life of 80 years on average. Because it is so short we tried to pull out the best of our life, we live it to the fullest.

Whitney had an epic career, an immortal voice. She was a unique woman.

And yet it is death who wins in the end. Because in fact, we are mere ash and dust. After some centuries what ever little thing we did would be completely forgotten.

But it doesn’t mean that we need to get depressed and stop living.

Every little deed and action we do has a great effect on our world. I believe in the butterfly effect. We might be forgotten later, but what will be is the fruit of what is and the new seed of what was.

If Thomas Edison didn’t invent the light bulb, I don’t know how we would live now. Centuries later, people might forget who invented the light bulb – due to natural disaster or whatever – but Edison’s creation helped to develop the world and will remain forever. He was the seed of our modern world.

Just like Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson who inspired many people to follow their dreams, because… everything is possible in the end.

We too can make a difference. Just do what you think is right and your children will do the same and so on. What little you will teach or contribute will have an impact on those around you.

But think before you act.

An Evil Nymph.