The most inevitable thing in the world is death. Yet, many of us, especially in Africa shy away from discussing it. Personally, I find death to be the most powerful motivator to live.
We take each breathe and the seeming promise of tomorrow for granted and we procrastinate. We live our lives in the future. One day I will….tomorrow I will,…As soon as I get this I will. The question we should really be asking ourselves is, ‘what will I do today’. Ever since I listened to Steve Job’s inspirational speech, I constantly use this question to evaluate my life and the decisions I make.
If I knew I would die tomorrow would I be doing what I am doing today?
It’s amazing how the question separates the necessary from the unnecessary, creates focus and ultimately when followed through with action brings a deep sense of freedom and happiness.
I found this Ted talk video by Candy Chang a Taiwanese American artist who is renowned for her interactive public installations that provoke civic engagement and emotional introspection. Chang’s ‘Before i die’…project is a public artwork that invites passers-by to share their life’s wishes on the side of an abandoned New Orleans building. Today, the project has become a global phenomenon created in over 1,000 cities and over 70 countries, including Iraq, China, Haiti, Brazil, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and South Africa
She discusses the project in her TED Talk here
The most stirring of responses received, as shared by Chang include
Before I die, I want to live……
Before I die, I want to stop being afraid
Before I die, I want to overcome depression
Before I die, I want to be a good mother
Before I die, make a positive, lasting impression on someone’s life
Before I die, I want to be completely myself.
Before I die, find my purpose
Before I die, understand why I am here
These responses evoke powerful emotions. On the one hand it reveals the brokenness of humanity and our need to make something of ourselves. On the other, it makes me acutely aware of the need to live, make that move and stop procrastinating living.
So my question for you today is what do you want to do before you die……
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